SPATIAL AND SCALE CHARACTERISTICS OF ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER IN AMERICA AND ITS CAUSE OF FORMATION
研究了美国县级行政中心与地理中心的偏差及其空间分布趋势，发现多数县治靠近地理中心且存在东高西低的集聚特征；州首府多非最大城市，人口规模较小；分析了自然、历史和政治成因，并为中国行政区划改革提供参考。
This article provides a calculation formula of the geographic deviation of administrative center from geographic center,and applies spatial statistic analysis method,like spatial autocorrelation analysis—Local Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi*—combines with GIS software,take the USA as an illustration,first of all,analyses the data,space distribution and trend of the geographic deviation of the country seats from the geographic centers,then analyses the population scale of state capital cities and the biggest cities,uses geovisualization to display the result.The results showed that: most of county seats in the United States are close to the geographic centers,and there is a trend of decreasing from east to west,and to a certain extent,there is spatial agglomeration in the proximity.Most of the capital cities are not the largest cities in the states,and relatively speaking their population is very small,the ranks of the capital cities are also relatively low.Then,analyses the causes of those characteristics of administrative centers,there are some natural,historical and political reasons.Finally,there is enlightenment to China,this study provides reference for Chinese administrative division reform,first when choosing a new capital or relocating a capital,it's important to select a position as near the geographic center as possible;most capitals in China are primate cities,so the governments should take measures to promote the development of non-primate city,it is also important to transform the governmental functions.