Kravchenko K. Socio-geographical features of formation and development of the settlement system of the Kharkiv region

The paper deals with the establishment of spatial and temporal tendencies in evolution of settlement system of the Kharkiv region and identification of problems and prospects of its development. Scientific and methodological foundations of the socio-geographical research of the regional settlement system are discussed. The conceptual-terminological apparatus of the study is formed. It reveals definitions to "settlement system", "reference framework of resettlement", "growth poles", "population settlement processes". It also concerns population structure, particularly preconditions, factors and forms of resettlement. Transformational stages and hierarchical levels of settlement are demonstrated. Aspects of population settlement are determined. Features of settlement system as a functional component of the regional sociogeosystem are distinguished, its characteristics are stated, functions of settlements are formulated, analysis of the concepts of "population settlement" and related ones used by various authors is carried out. Levels of territory economic development are allocated. Methodology of socio-geographical research of the regional settlement system is substantiated. The main approaches and methods are determined. The essence of the estimation-prognostic model of migration processes of the region is disclosed. The place of the Kharkiv region’s resettlement system is distinguished in the national population settlement system. Peculiarities of territorial communities’ formation in Ukraine are studied. Analysis of the decentralization processes trends in the Kharkiv region is made while it is classified according to the types of regional communities. Problems and prospects of territorial communities’ formation in the Kharkiv region are stated. Using retrospective analysis migration waves and population settlement factors in the Kharkiv region are determined. Periods and subperiods of the Kharkiv region’s settlement system are established. Migration and depopulation processes and their influence on the region’s settlement system are investigated. Features of modern territorial structure of settlement system of the Kharkiv region, density of settlements and transport network of the region are objected. Structure of the administrative-territorial structure of the Kharkiv region is represented. Local systems of the region’s settlement are classified according to the forms of a supporting framework. Classification of the Kharkiv region’s cities of is made on the basis of humanity. They are grouped according to employment of the population in different types of economic activities, the role in resettlement system. Organizational clusters of population settlement system are determined. Population density is shown. Correlation of urban and rural settlements in cities and districts of the region is investigated; the region’s urbanization processes are considered. District typification of the Kharkiv region is carried out according to urbanization level and settlement structure. Analysis of population spatial distribution and topological analysis of resettlement system of the region are in focus. Gravity centers of the population are determined; their dynamics in time is studied; transformation tendency of the settlement system is highlighted. Population movement in the Kharkiv region in cities and districts is staged, their grouping is carried out at the rates of population decline. Grouping of urban sociogeosystems of the region and time periods of their development is demonstrated.; It is based on the results of cluster analysis, IFI-modeling of settlement system, settlement potential, birth and mortality rate in the Kharkiv region. Results of estimation and prognostic modeling of migration processes in the Kharkiv region are presented, taking into account necessity of forming a polycentric model of the regional development. Perspective «growth points» of the Kharkiv region’s settlement system are determined on calculations’ results basing on the «rank-size» rule. Migration processes modeling, IFI- modeling, GISanalysis are conducted. SWOT analysis of settlement system of the Kharkiv region is carried out. Problems and perspectives of its development are identified; measures of regional demographic and ecosystem policy are stated.