What is the term for the boundary between a town or city and the countryside?

The term for the boundary between a town or city and the countryside is known as the rural/urban fringe. This area acts as a transitional zone where urban areas meet rural land. It showcases a mix of both environments, often characterized by a blend of residential, agricultural, and undeveloped land.

The rural/urban fringe is significant because it reflects the interaction between urban development and rural landscape, highlighting how cities expand and influence surrounding areas. This region can experience various land uses, from housing and shops to fields and farms, as needs and pressures from the urban center spill outwards.

Other terms do not accurately define this boundary. For example, the urban edge may refer specifically to the perimeter of developed urban areas but does not capture the rural aspect. A suburban area generally denotes residential development that is part of or adjacent to a city, rather than the broader transition zone. Metropolitan border might imply an administrative boundary defining the extent of a metropolitan area but lacks the specific connotation of the rural influences that the rural/urban fringe embodies.