The state of Pradesh can be divided into two distinct geographical regions based on distinct physical, socio-economic and agro-climatologically parameters. They are Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. Rayalaseema region is situated in the southern and south-western part of Andhra Pradesh with an area of about 67.4 thousand sq.kms. It comprises of four districts namely Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool. Due to its peculiar geographical position in the peninsula, the region suffers from several handicaps. It forms the dry tract of Andhra Pradesh and is declared as backward region of Andhra Pradesh. It is also one of the driest regions of the country ranking next only to Rajasthan. However, it has been observed that, even in the drought prone Rayalaseema region also experiencing urban trend

Better employment opportunities and facilities are the grass root causes for the urban trends.

As population and urban geography deals with man and his habitation, there is little scope for nomothetic analysis. Humans number, distribution, density and other demographic characteristics, and the spatial aspects of urban and rural can be best expressed in geographic analysis. Hence, the various aspects of urban trends are described on the basis of the findings arrived at through census data with infrequent deductive exercises.

As the work has a distinctive temporal dimension, it has become necessary to study the relevant literature concerned with trends of urban settlements by class size of towns/cities in the districts of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Interpretation and analysis is made by quantifying the relevant data and by drawing the necessary maps by using GIS.

The data are collected from various sources which include both published and unpublished books and maps, from government publications, census data books, field investigation reports, topographical maps. Data are also collected from the records of the planning departments of the district and from mandal reports. Secondary data is the primary source of the present inquiry.

Both preliminary and final stages of present research work had involved with an extensive library study to select the present research topic, to limit the scope of work related to the topic and to set up bibliography with annotated and general topics concerning to research topic. Library study was used to find out various sources for collecting required information for present topic. Moreover, base maps of physiographic, climate, drainage, soil and resources maps like mineral and forest etc have been prepared for analysis of the present research topic.

Rayalaseema is economically backward region of Andhra Pradesh as compared to the Coastal Andhra region. It includes the southern most districts of Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool (Fig.1). It has a total area of 67,299 square kilometres. This is a normally dry tract of Andhra Pradesh, situated in an un-favourable zone and has declared as drought prone area of South India. Rayalaseema region lies between 12⁰30^’ N and 16⁰ 30’N latitudes and 76⁰ 30’ E to 79⁰ 55’ longitudes. Geographically, it forms the Southern and South-eastern portion of the Deccan Plateau. The Eastern Ghats running through North–South direction bound the region on Eastern side. On the North, The Tungabhadra-Krishna course forms the Natural boundary. On the Western and Southern sides, it has no natural boundaries but merges with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.

The study of demographic aspects provides population information and its characteristics in region. The data on demographic aspects like total population, density, sex ratio of districts in Rayalaseema, Rayalaseema region, Andhra Pradesh and India as whole are given in table-5.1.

Table 1

S. No	Name of the Distract	Area in sq.km.	Total population	Density Per sq.km.	Sex Ratio
1	Chittoor	15,152	41,74,064	275	997
2	Kadapa	15,359	28,82,469	188	985
3	Anantapur	19,130	40,81,148	213	977
4	Kurnool	17,653	40,53,463	229	988
5	Rayalaseema	67,294	1,51,91,144	226	987
6	Andhra Pradesh	2,75,045	8,46,65,533	308	992
	India	3,287,240	1,210,193,422	382	940

Source: Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Computed from Census of India, 1981, 1991, 2001and 2011.

Among the Rayalaseema region districts, in terms of total population as well as density of population per square kilometre, Chittoor has the highest value, whereas the lowest value of population as well as density of persons per sq km is found in Kadapa (Figure 1, Figure 2 ). Further, Rayalaseema constitutes a sex ratio of 987, which is higher than national average (940), but less than the state average (992).

The data on Final Population totals are presented in table.2 separately for rural and urban areas. The unit of classification in this regard is 'town' for urban areas and 'village' for rural areas. In the Census of India 2011, the definition of urban area adopted is as follows:

Table 2 depicts that in 1901 the population of Andhra Pradesh stood at 1,90, 65,921 comprising of 1, 72, 26,171 in rural and 18, 39,750 in urban areas, forming 9.7 percent of urbanization. The corresponding population for Rayalaseema region was 33,98,503; 30,16,493; and 3,82,010 persons respectively, i.e. 8.7 percent urban population. In 2011 census, Andhra Pradesh had population of8,46,65,533, consisting 5,63,11,788 persons in rural and 2,83,53,745 persons in urban locality, constitutes 33.5 percent (Figure 4). The Rayalaseema constitute a total population of 1,63,62,138 comprising 1,16,86,469 persons and 46,75,669 persons in rural and urban areas, had with 29.7 percent in 2011(Figure 5). The Rayalaseema region formed 20.8 percent of urban population of Andhra Pradesh in 1901, decreased to 16.5 percent by 2011.

It can be also noticed from table-5.2 that the growth of population in Rayalaseema region from 1901 to 2011 shows a marked variation from decade to decade. The total population of the region during 1901 was 33,98,503 and by 2011 it has increased to 1,51,91,144showing an absolute increase of 1,17,92,641 people during the last eleven decades(Figure 4). The highest increase was observed between 1971-81 and 1981-91. This could be due to the developmental activities initiated in the field of agriculture, industries and other allied activities especially after the 1970.

The population classification by rural-urban areas at district level is essential for effective planning and policy formulation at micro level, because in India, district is considered as an administrative unit as well as apex body for implementing all welfare programmesby the local, state and central governments. Here an attempt is made to compare the population of district of Rayalaseema region by residence.Table-5.3 provides information on distribution of population by Rural-Urban areas, Districts, Region, State and Country for eleven decades.

Table 3 illustrate that as per 2011 census, India had total population of 1,21,01,93,422persons comprising 83, 30,87,662 persons in rural and 37,71,05,760 persons in urban areas. On the other hand, united Andhra Pradesh recorded a population of 8,46,65,533 persons with persons of 5,63,11,788 in rural and 2,83,53,745 in urban areas. As for the population of Rayalaseema region concerned, it had total population of 1,63,62,138 comprising 1,16,86,469 in rural and 46,75,669 in urban areas. In 2011 census, Rayalaseema region form 16.5 percent and 1.2 percent of urban population of Andhra Pradesh and India respectively (Figure 5).

Among the districts of the region, the highest rural population was noticed in chittoor, while the lowest rural population had recorded in Kadapa. Among Urban population, the highest urban population was found in Chittoor and least in Kadapa. It can be noticed from Figure 5 that the proportion of urban population, the highest was percentage in Kadapa (34.0 percent) followed by Chittoor (29.5 %) Kurnool (28.4 %) and Anantapur (28.1 %).

The analysis of process of urbanization among the places gives information on levels as well as trends in urbanization among the study areas over a period of time. Tisdele (1942) stated that “urbanization is a process whereby increasing proportions of a region’s urban population to the total population of the region” may be reiterated here. Similarly, Smailes (1975,P.3) explained Urbanization is a Process in which involved: i) the idea of concentration, ii) Industrialization and iii) modernisation. Table 4  furnishes data on process of urbanization for eleven decades (1901-2011).

Table 5 discloses that in 1901, 10.9 percent of Indian population inhabited in urban areas, increased to 17.3 percent in 1951 and rose to 31.1 percent in 2011. However, in united Andhra Pradesh, the percentage of urbanization was lower than the national average during 1901-1931, thereafter; it was similar to Indian average during 1941-2011.

Table 4

Census Year	India	Andhra Pradesh	Rayalaseema
1901	10.9	9.7	8.7
1911	10.3	10.1	8.2
1921	11.2	10.2	7.7
1931	12.0	11.1	8.8
1941	13.9	13.4	10.4
1951	17.3	17.4	12.8
1961	18.0	17.4	14.7
1971	19.9	19.3	16.4
1981	23.3	23.3	20.3
1991	25.7	26.8	23.2
2001	27.8	27.3	23.2
2011	31.1	33.5	23.2

Source: Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Computed from Census of India,1981,1991,2001and 2011

However, the percentage of urbanization in Rayalaseema Region was 8.7 in 1901, increased to 12.8 in 1951 and reached to 29.7 percent in 2011, which was always lower than the Coastal Andhra, And Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh and Indian average (Figure 5). Therefore, the trend of urbanization was lower during eleven decades (1901-2011) in Rayalaseema.

Rayalaseema region recorded lower rate of urbanization during eleven decades(1901-2011).Moreover, percentage of urban population declined in 1901-1921, i.e. 8.7 percent to 7.7 percent. The causes for this were spread of communicable diseases like influenza, cholera, and plague as well as not having development in tertiary sector functions in the region. But, during the period 1931-2011, an increasing in urban population was noticed. Regarding Telangana region, the urban population was influenced by Hyderabad city and had ranked as million plus city in 1951. As a result, the percent urban population of Telangana region tremendously increased. This may be the cause for having higher proportion of urban population in Telangana Region than the Coastal Andhra, Andhra Pradesh state and Indian average. This was confirmed in a study by Peach (2005) in his work on “Urbanization in India.

In studying the urbanization trends it is worthwhile to note the Kingsley Davis (1962) three different stages of urbanization and urban growth. He noticed a logistic curve or an attenuated “S”. According to him, in beginning stage, there is a slow growth of urban population, while in the second stage, a very steep rise almost showing a vertical line. In third stage, the growth approaches a plateau to indicate very slowly or no growth of urbanization. This was experienced in industrially developed countries like United States of America, United Kingdom and Japan. While, in case of India, the impact of industrialisation on urban growth would be limited to some areas. In studying the process of urbanization in India by applying the approach of Kingsley Davis, weather the process of urbanization at India, united Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema or Coastal Andhra, that these were in initial stage as the urban population was gradually increasing. Hence, it can be concluded that it is passing through first stage of urbanization. The possible causes may be due to the sluggish in industrial development thereby slow economic development. However, the second stage or take off stage of urbanization in India or in Andhra Pradesh and also any other region in Andhra Pradesh has yet been reached.

Analysis of urban population growth by decade wise furnishes information on data decades in which the population increase or decrease over a period of time, and can be found the possible causes for the situation.Table.5 provides data on Urban Population Growth in Rayalaseema Region-Decade wise during eleven decades period i.e 1901-2011.

Table 5 shows that in 1901, Rayalaseema has had total population of 33,98,503 lakhs, increased to 53,30,851 lakhs in 1941, 79,60,214 lakhs in 1971 and 1,51,91,144 in 2011. While, as per 1901 census, Rayalaseema had only 3,82,010 lakhs Urban population, increased to 5,39,440 lakhs in 1941, 13,09,336 lakhs in 1971 and rose to 45,05,515 lakhs in 2011. Thus, the growth of Urban Population was more than eleven times during the eleven decades (1901-2011) indicates the magnitude of problem of Urbanization in the region. From 1941 onwards, the difference of urban growth rate was nearly 3 percent except in1961. The cumulative growth index reveals that urban population in Rayalaseema region had increased to eleven fold in eleven decades ((1901-2011). It shows that the Rayalaseema region has to provide urban amenities not only to the already existing Urban Population but, also to the large additions of Urban Population.

The highest absolute increase of Urban Population of 3.88 percent has been recorded in the decade 1971-1981.While the lowest absolute increase of Urban Population of 0.03 percent during 1991-2001.It can be attributed to low natural growth and also low volume of inflow of population. During the period, 1901-1931, the minus growth was recorded. This might be due to the spread of diseases like influenza, cholera, and plague during the period the entire India which includes the Rayalaseema Region as well. In general, during 1901-1931 fluctuations were found in growth of urban population of Rayalaseema region and there after continuous increase of urban population was observed during the period of five decades (1941-1991), except in the decade 1951-61.

Growth of cities / towns depends on phase of secondary and tertiary sectors in cities and towns with having better employment as well as amenities. These in turn influences the rate of migration, causing to growth of urban population thereby increasing the number of cities and towns. Table 6 describes the cumulative urban growth index for Cities, Medium Towns and Small Towns of Rayalaseema region during 1901-2011.

Table 6 reveals that the urban settlements of all types had increased to more thaneleven times during eleven decades (1901-2011). In case of small towns with a population of less than 20,000, the cumulative growth index was always lower than the all size growth index. On the other hand, cumulative growth index of cities with population over 59,000 and above as well as medium towns holding population of 20,000-49,999 was higher than the all size classes during, 1901-1981 and thereafter, cities recorded higher cumulative growth rate till 2011. Further, it can be observed from table.6 that up to 1941, only medium as well as small towns existed and medium towns index had increased to more than eleven times, but small towns cumulative index had gradually declined in Rayalaseema region by 2011.

Cities in Rayalaseema region came into existence only after 1941 census year and till then the Rayalaseema was a region of many medium and small towns. From 1951 onwards cumulative growth index of medium towns and cities was more than the small towns. In 1961, the cumulative growth index of all towns, cities, medium towns and small towns was 250.5, 240.7, 750.5 and 76.4 respectively, which recorded as 1,179.0, 2,794.9, 1,143.0 and 81.0 by 2011 respectively (Figure 5). The reasons for differentials in the growth for various class sizes might be as follows. The occupational structure in most of the small towns being agro-based and household industries, which have not attracted the high volume of migration, rather some of the people out-migrated from small towns to bigger towns and cities. Moreover, in small towns, with development of medium scale industries, transport as well as communication networks and commercial functions grow, thereby the population might increase and finally the small towns may be up graded to medium towns. Thus, the small towns were disappearing in Rayalaseema, as which was the situation that prevailed in entire parts of country.

 In India urban areas are classified into six class sizes depending on population. However, in the present study, for convenience of analysis, the cities and towns are categories into three types as: cities with population of 50,000 and above, medium towns comprising population of 49,999-20,000 and small towns holding a population of less than 20,000. The study of urban settlements of a region as a spatial system is justified on the ground that sets of cities present regularity in their distribution of population size (Robson,1973,p.20) In this study an attempt is made to trace the distribution of population across the three categories of class sizes of urban settlements in Rayalaseema.Table-5.8 contains data on urban population of Rayalaseema across the cities, medium and small towns during 1901-2011.

Table 7 shows that the pattern of population concentration in Rayalaseema over a period of eleven decades. It can be noticed from table-5.8 that from 1901-1941, there were no cities and the entire urban population in Rayalaseema was inhabited in medium as well as small towns. This might be due to not existence of large and medium scale industries in Rayalaseema. Hence, the urban concentrated in existing medium and small towns only. However, the cities in Rayalaseema came into existence in 1951onwards.Thereafter, the population of cities in Rayalaseema steadily increased and growing rapidly in recent decades (1971-2011).The share of cities’ population was only 16.9 percent in 1951, increased to 71.0 percent in 1981 and rose to 81.3 percent in 2011.This highest growth was mainly as a result of high volume migration apart from natural growth. The cities in Rayalaseema had high rate of population growth only on 1971 onwards, thereby the share of medium towns and small town’s population gradually declined. Thus, the cities attracted the population from medium and small towns.

It can also be noticed from Table 7 that the small towns’ share of urban population were predominated before independence. Till 1921, the share of urban population of small towns has remained same as 85.2 percent in 1901 and 84.6 percent in 1921. However, from 1931 onwards, the share of small towns started declining and their share became much lower after 1961 onwards. This might be due to out-migration of population to medium towns and cities. Thus, finally the share of small towns declined to 11.3 percent in 1981, 7.4 percent in 2001 and comedown to5.9 by 2011.

The share of urban population of medium towns had more less same till 1911, i.e.; 14.8 percent in 1901 and 15.4 in 1921. From 1921 onwards, an increase in share of urban population of medium towns had recorded up to 1941; this might be due to attraction by modernisation. From 1951 onwards, the share of urban population in medium towns started declining and recorded as 41.5 percent, the cause being existence of cities in Rayalaseema region. While in 1961, the share of urban population of medium towns had again increased to 44.5 percent. This might be due to concentration of tertiary occupations during this period. Thus, predominance of medium towns had found as compared to small towns and cities. However, from 1961 onwards, the share of urban population of medium towns had gradually declined to 17.7 percent in 1981 to 13.6 percent in 2001 and 12.8 percent by 2011 and this population was attracted by cities.

In the Rayalaseema region, majority of agro-based and household industry towns do not show a high growth rate. Similarly, towns were having commercial activities also had not demonstrated high rate. These three types of towns usually promote growth, but not at greater extent. The entire agro-based, household, industrial and commercial towns were small towns. It can be therefore, concluded that low growth rate was in existence in small towns.

While, on the other hand service and bi-functional towns had recorded higher growth rate. These two types of towns provide greater incentive than former types of towns, since their growth rate was higher. It can be therefore, concluded that moderate growth had existed in service and bi-functional towns. In Rayalaseema region, both medium and small towns were noticed in moderate category.

The towns that consisting the various industrious, mining activity and multi-functional services were recorded the highest incentive growth rate. Thus, rapid growth rate recorded in these towns and these towns mostly belonged to either medium towns or non-metropolitan cities with meagre amenities.

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that Rayalaseema region is considered as a region of medium a well as small towns and same as in case of Coastal Andhra. Furthermore, it can be concluded that by analysing several parameters of urbanization like absolute urban population, percent of urban population, density, Growth of urban population, differences in percentage share of urban population in cities, medium as well as small towns, that in aspects urbanization in Rayalaseema region has been lagging behind India and Andhra Pradesh as whole.

The decade 1921-31 was turning point in urbanization. In the previous decades, the urban population was flaunting by either stagnating or declining. Since 1901 to 1921, the Rayalaseema had only two medium towns (Kurnool and Adoni) and the rest were small towns. Thus, Rayalaseema was the region of mainly small towns along with two medium towns. However, since 1951, medium towns and cities had started growing much faster than the small towns. Further, there is chance for medium towns and cities for taking a lead as far as growth is concerned as compared to small towns.

Moreover, the regularity in size, class and growth was also noticed. Many of the medium towns and cities had recorded high growth rate, while, most of the small towns have low growth rate. Further, it had been observed that there are many towns growing as stagnant towns.

Thus, the pattern of urbanization in Rayalaseema had been lower than other two regions namely the coastal Andhra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and India as whole. It might be because of meager or nil development of industrialization and low. Rayalaseema region was recorded as the region of medium and small towns; while after independence, it recorded as region of medium towns and cities. Further, population density is lower in Rayalaseema than other two regions, Andhra Pradesh as whole and Indian average. This can be attributed to meager or nil development of industrialization and low pace of socio-economic development in the study region.