Urbanisation is a process of urban population growth, and it is growing rapidly in developing
countries including Malaysia. In a period of 100 years, i.e. before and after Malaya achieved independence
in 1957, followed by the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the process of urban population growth and
development has occurred in tandem with economic and role of place development in the states in
Malaysia. Introducing measures of the GetiseOrd G index or Moran's I index for spatial autocorrelation
analysis, this paper will discuss the population growth process which contributed to the growth of towns
in Peninsular Malaysia starting from 1911. As a whole, the function of place and economic development
greatly influenced this phenomenon; starting with mining activities, agriculture, manufacturing industries
and followed by services that existed in these cities.