This paper deals with the changes in the urban hierarchy of Khuzestan during a period of 50 years (1956-2006) determining the extent of changes in urbanization and the potential spatial differences between the cities in this province from the perspective of sustainable development. Adopting a descriptive-analytic approach and employing various models such as tensile modulus, primate city indicators, urban concentration index (three-city and four-city), the rank-size rule, the present paper analyzes the factors influencing the urban networks in Khuzestan. It follows from the results of the study that the urban networks of the province, have been heavily affected by developments so that Abadan which used to have the first rank in Khuzestan has lost its rank to Ahwaz due to the administrative, political, and commercial centrality of Ahwaz. The imposed war (of Iraq against Iran) has also caused abrupt changes in the population and urban hierarchy. Therefore, urban networks of Khuzestan influenced by factors such as immigration do not have a spatial balance (and hence stability) currently. Interestingly, the results suggest that the spatial distance between the first city Ahwaz with other cities is growing exponentially. Finally, in order to achieve the optimal spatial urban hierarchy, the following measures are proposed: land use planning, development of mid-sized cities, creation and strengthening of new cities as well as small towns, and giving variety to activities and functional roles of cities.

Keywords