Investigating Relationship between “Ethnicity” and “Urban Spaces and Customs” Case-study: Garmsar

Through studying the case of Garmsar, this article addresses the relationship between urban spaces and the human agent who both reproduces and consumes these spaces. The main focus of the article is the concept of ethnicity because it is the specific character of Garmsar which is made up of many different coexisting ethnic populations during several decades. It is a descriptive-analytical research and methods for data gathering are documentary method, focus group and interview. Findings did not show any meaningful relationship between ethnicity and the formation of neighborhoods. Different ethnic populations have been spread randomly throughout different quarters of the city. The people of Garmsar do not involve ethnicity in the images of the city in their minds; in the other words they have an integrated image of their city. They introduce themselves by referring to their city, not to their ethnicity. However, in choosing their spouse and voting the city council candidates and also making new friendships they prefer a member of their ethnic group.