Geostatistical analysis of the component structure of small and middle-sized cities of Volgograd region

The analysis of the component structure of small and middle- size cities of Volgograd region has been performed on the basis of statistical data for 2010 that includes the evaluation of composition, number and density of settlements that compose the regional system of settling as the integral entity. The research has determined that the small cities with the population from 9 thousand to 20 thousand people are the main type of settlements among all cities of Volgograd region, where 16.8 % of the entire city population live. He performed classification has defined the groups of small and middle-size cities according to the value of natural decrease of migration outflows of population. The trends of the space distribution of the value of population decrease in the cities have been determined on the basis of Voronoy maps; the evaluation of the space changes has been performed and the clusters of small and middle-size cities have been specified according to the indices of population decrease and migration outflow.

Volgograd region, small city, middle-size city, population number, natural decrease of population, migration outflow, geo-statistic analysis, geo-information system, dotted cartogram, Voronoy map