Assessment of Livability in Peri Urban Villages: a Case Study of the Central District of Shiraz County

Investigating the livability of peri urban rural areas has special importance and place in geographical research. Both urban planners and rural development planning scholars and researchers should open the door to balance and sustainable regional development through efforts to identify and explain these rural issues. The purpose of this study is investigate and analyze the livability status of peri urban Shiraz villages. The research method is descriptive-analytical and the data were collected by both documentary and field methods. The study area of the study is 13 villages located in the central part of Shiraz. From total rural population living in villages, 295 heads of households were selected as statistical sample. Given the varied geographical location of the study area, the natural position of the villages was also taken into account. The results show that the livelihood status of the villages with the mean value is 185.266 above the average (177). The results also showed that the level of livability was different in major indices. Other results showed that there was a significant difference in the livelihood status of the villages based on their natural position and it found that plain villages had a better livability status compared to other villages.