Is Canberra a city?

When referring to the capital of Australia, Canberra is sometimes referred to as a city, but is it really? In this article, we take a look at what makes a city, Canberra’s specifically, and whether it qualifies as one.Almost everyone is familiar with the typical definition of a city. According to Merriam Webster, a city is “a large town” or “an incorporated municipal center”. But there is more to it than just the size of a place. With various official documents and news media reporting, it is quite clear that Canberra is not classified as a city. This definition can be quite subjective, however. Often times there are various criteria to define a city – population, infrastructure, economics, culture, geography and politics. Depending on where you are in the world and which sources you refer to, the definition of a city can vary. So is Canberra then not a city? Judging by its history and context, the answer is no. But first, let’s take a look at the details that make Canberra the place it is today. ## History of CanberraAustralia’s capital city was planned and developed in the early 1900s as part of the South Wales Project, which was focused on creating an adequate port and capital city for the state of New South Wales. It was much different than other Australian settlements at the time. It was built specifically as a planned city, with careful thought and planning taken into designing its main street and civic squares. Canberra was ultimately founded in 1913, receiving official status in 1927. From there, it has grown into an extremely modern settlement with all sorts of infrastructure in place. It’s now home to thousands of businesses, inhabitants and facilities, though perhaps most widely known for its own version of Washington D.C.’s iconic White House – the National Parliament House. ## Characteristics of Canberra The Australian Bureau of Statistics would not classify Canberra as being an incorporated municipal center – primarily because this status does not apply to any of Australia’s states or territories. Furthermore, Canberra does not meet the criteria based on population necessary for it to be classified as an officially designated city. That being said, Canberra has many characteristics and features of a city – including considerable economic activity and its well-developed housing infrastructure. It also boasts robust culture and heritage – both elements of urban life which make it attractive to tourists and residents alike. ## What Makes Canberra Unique? Canberra may not be considered a “city” by some standards, but there are certain noteworthy elements that make it unique amongst other communities. Below are some characteristic features that differentiate Canberra from other settlements across Australia: – **Exceptional infrastructure:** Canberra’s infrastructure includes extensive paved streets, roads, public transport systems and pedestrian networks. All of which were meticulously designed for the purpose of providing efficient connections between each of its major centres. – **Strong Tradition:** Canberra’s Parliament House has become a key symbol since its construction in 1988 – one that stands to represent democracy in Australia and unifying Australians from across the nation. – **Dedicated Public Service:** Commonly known as the Federal Capital City, Canberra is home to everyone from government officials and university students to public servants – all coming together to create a strong community that values integrity and diversity. – **Popular Tourist Destination:** Boasting a variety of activities, sights and restaurants – plus close proximity to nature – Canberra draws in thousands of locals and tourists alike each year. ## Is Canberra Really A City? Now that we’ve explored the details that make Canberra unique amongst all other territories within Australia, let’s get into the real question – is Canberra really a city? The answer is technically no; Depending on what criteria you use in your definition of a city, it fails to meet at least one of them for whatever reason. It does likely meet some of those criteria – such as infrastructure, population and economic activity – but otherwise fails to qualify as one recognized by official documentation or census data. What it does offer though is an incredibly unique experience only possible by virtue of its planning and location – one which all Australians can collectively love and appreciate. Ultimately, whatever definition you may use or criteria you might apply – Canberra offers its own unique flavor of impeccable culture and history that will always be respected regardless if it holds iconic status as a “city’ or not.As ABC News reports, “Canberra may not be classified as an officially designated ’city’…but there are still many unseen hallmarks that ensure it exists as a place all its own.”

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