The proximity of large cities exerts multifaceted pressure on the areas directly adjacent to them, manifesting itself, among other things, in intensive land use. This study presents the results of research on land use intensity in the municipalities of the Częstochowa agglomeration, covering an area of 1,509 km2. The research was conducted using a modified point evaluation method. Selected diagnostic variables, that significantly influence spatial development changes were analyzed. The collected data were assigned appropriate point values, and their synthesis provided the basis for developing a scale of varying land use intensity in the analyzed area.. Selected data on building density, land cover and population density were developed using the information contained in the Corine Land Cover 2018 database, BDOT10k and resources from the Central Statistical Office. The results indicate disparities in the distribution of the analyzed factors and, consequently, the heterogeneity of the studied area. The study revealed a division of the studied settlement system into an eastern part with a lower degree of the studied phenomenon and a western part with a high degree of land use intensity. The highest values were observed for Częstochowa. Using the example of the Częstochowa agglomeration, the study demonstrates the differentiated intensity of space utilization depending on the location relative to the large urban center, which is associated with the zonal distribution of geographical environment components–both natural and anthropogenic.
