Urban population of Western Siberia in the context of Russian urban processes (1950-1980)

Processes of urban population’s formation in the post-war period (1959-1989) under the social-economic changes’ influence that happened at this time are discussed in the present article on the example of Western Siberia. Characteristics of urban transition in the economic area on the basis of analyses of natural and mechanic population increase, large, average and small urban areas’ demographic development are represented. Territorial specifics of the dynamics of urban citizens’ number are revealed. The author points out extensive and intensive phases of the cities’ development (intensive phase of urbanization process is characterized by decrease of the urban population number and its unit weight, reduction of migration size from the countryside and increase of its role in urban transitions, decrease of the number of administrative settlements and forwarding character of the population number growth in big urban settlements and agglomerations). The role of extensive factors in formation of cities in Western Siberia is consequently analyzed and specific features of their transition to intensive phase of urbanization are revealed.