regional city; provincial town
Refers to a city or town outside the major metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka, etc.), often with a more local character and smaller scale.
In regional cities, it's hard to get by without a car.
He left Tokyo and moved to a provincial town.
大都市 means a large city or metropolis, while 地方都市 specifically refers to smaller cities in regional areas.
田舎 means countryside or rural area, often with a more rustic connotation, whereas 地方都市 implies a city with some urban functions but outside major centers.
Compound of 地方 (region, locality) and 都市 (city). The term is straightforward and modern, with no obscure historical derivation.