Urbanization and Factors Affecting It: A Case of Arsi Robe Town, Southeastern Ethiopia Using Retrospective and Survey Designs (1994/95-2020/21)

Urbanization is one of the oldest & most pervasive processes of change that has helped shape societies around the world. The degree of urbanization classifies the urban settings into various classes & it is affected by a number of factors. However, the degree of urbanization of Arsi Robe town and its determinants are not documented so far. Thus, the paper aimed to determine levels of urbanization of Arsi Robe town & factors either positively or negatively affecting it from 1994/95 up to 2019/20. The study was conducted from May 1-31, 2021 in Arsi Robe town which is located in Arsi Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia. Descriptive survey & retrospective designs were employed. Measurements & remotely sensed satellite imageries data were employed in determining the urbanization of the town. Both primary & secondary data were utilized. Survey participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, remote sensing, GIS & archival materials analyses. Descriptive statistical methods were utilized to describe variables of the study while multiple linear regressions were employed to evaluate factors affecting the level of urbanization of the town. Annual rate of urbanization of Arsi Robe town was 6.322 percent between 1994/95 & 2019/20 while the rates of its urbanization were 3.019%, 6.428%, 4.814%, 12.291% & 5.059% between 1994/95 &1999/00, 1999/00 & 2004/05, 2004/05 & 2009/10, 2009/10 & 2014/15, & 2014/15 & 2019/20 respectively. Using the agglomeration index of determining urbanization rate of the town, Arsi Robe town was rural area town in 1994/95 while it was dense urban cluster starting from 1999/00 up to 2019/20 based on the population density per km2. Government support & related factors made the impact of 24.80%, infrastructure, facility & related factors made the impact of 24.90%, economic growth & related factors made the impact of 32.20%, and log of population density made the impact of 35.50% on the level of urbanization Arsi Robe town. Based on the multiple linear regression model, GSRF, IFRF, EGRF, AOF & LogPden contributed positively towards the level of urbanization of the town. They had accounted for 69.30 percent of the determined level of urbanization of this town. In conclusion, several determinants had contributed positively towards the level of urbanization of Arsi Robe town. So that several factors had affected level of urbanization of the town. It is recommended that variables that are not addressed in the paper have to be included in developing more profound regression model that help in forecasting the level of urbanization of the town by other interested researchers. Keywords: Urbanization, Affecting Factors, Arsi Robe Town DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/18-2-01 Publication date: February 28th 2026