A city is an urban area that is differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. In most parts of the world, cities are generally substantial and nearly always have an urban core, but in the United States many incorporated areas which have a very modest population, or a suburban or even mostly rural character, are designated as cities. City can also be a synonym for "downtown" or a "city centre".

A city usually consists of residential, industrial and business areas together with administrative functions which may relate to a wider geographical area. A large share of a city's area is primarily taken up by housing, which is then supported by infrastructure such as roads, streets and often public transport routes such as a rapid transit system. Lakes and rivers may be the only undeveloped areas within the city. The study of cities is covered extensively in human geography.

"The city is a human habitat that allows people to form relations with others at various levels of intimacy while remaining entirely anonymous." (This definition was the subject of an exhibition at the Israeli pavilion at the 2000 Venice Biennale of architecture)

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The Sydney Morning Herald National Headlines

O'Farrell's power failure
A DEFIANT Morris Iemma will sell parts of the state's electricity assets under a face-saving proposal that does not require Parliament's approval.
Now the state will pay, with interest
ANY chance of full-on power privatisation died yesterday, with the Opposition refusing to give the Government the support it needed to get the legislation through Parliament.
Charges laid over serial sex attacks
A SYDNEY man whom police believe is responsible for the rape and robbing of six women in the western suburbs since April appeared at court yesterday morning.
Newspapers nominated
The Sydney Morning Herald has been named as a finalist in the annual Newspaper of the Year award. The other finalists in the same category are Melbourne's The Age and Herald- Sun and Brisbane's Courier Mail. The winner will be announced on September 10.
Footballer's girlfriend keeps sight
THE girlfriend of Cronulla rugby league star Greg Bird says her immediate concern is to recover from an eye injury and not clear the air about the night he allegedly hit her with a glass.

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