A megalopolis or megaregion is a cluster of metropolitan areas that form a continuous urban landscape due to interconnected transportation, economy, resources, and ecology. These areas benefit from coordinated policies despite maintaining their distinct identities. The concept of a megalopolis has significantly influenced urban planning by introducing a broader perspective on urban development and expansion.
1977: Mega-City One Debuts in Judge Dredd Comic Book Series
Mega-City One, a sprawling fictional megalopolis covering much of the Eastern US and parts of Canada, makes its first appearance in the Judge Dredd comic book series.
July 2005: The Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech Explores US Megaregions
Robert E. Lang and Dawn Dhavale of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech published a report exploring the megaregions of the United States.
2007: Lang and Nelson Identify 10 Megaregions in the United States
In a published article, Robert Lang and Nelson, expanding on prior research, grouped 20 "megapolitan" areas into 10 megaregions.
2019: China Recognizes City Clusters and Begins Planning for Megalopolises
China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published guidelines that formally recognized the concept of '城市群' (chéngshì qún), or "city cluster", which corresponds to the idea of "megalopolis". The NDRC distinguishes "city clusters" from the smaller-scale "metropolitan areas" (都市圈) and incorporates city clusters into its national planning.
2050: America 2050 Identifies 11 Megapolitan Regions
America 2050, a program by the Regional Planning Association (RPA), published research that identified 11 megaregions within the United States and Canada.