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Hinterland
The hinterland is the rural territory associated with an urban area, often a port. The area from which products are delivered to a port for shipping elsewhere is that port's hinterland. Contrast foreland , the places to which a port ships.
The word has been borrowed from German, where it literally means the land behind (a city, a port or similar).
By analogy, it is the area surrounding a service from which customers are attracted, also called the market area .
It was applied also to the surrounding areas of former European colonies in Africa, which, although not part of the colony itself, were influenced by the colony.
Last updated: 01-28-2005 08:25:30
Last updated: 02-17-2005 09:04:43