What decides when a place shows on the map?

[paddyhasneeds]

I'm just looking for something on Google Maps, and I noticed that as you zoom into the UK obviously different places (as in town/city/village level) show up as you reach different levels of zoom/detail.

What decides the level?

I ask as different map sites seem to show different towns and cities at different points and, as an example, the place I was looking for only shows once you zoom in quite a bit, despite being bigger and having a higher population than some local areas that show up much sooner.

Weird/random I admit but I assumed there would be some sort of standard.

[Morningside]

Slight hijack...In addition to that question. On miles to a destination where does it take the town/village centre?
Some say the town square, others the town hall and I have also heard the edge. So what one is it?

[anonymous-user]

I was once told that the distance was to the Post Office.

As for the map detail, I think it just depends what's available. Towns will be photographed more often than fields etc

[paddyhasneeds]

Sorry, I meant the place name not the level of photography.

[Chrisgr31]

I have heard that place names will appear on roadsigns if they are at main road intersections. So therefore Crowborough is the biggest inland town in East Sussex but doesnt appear on any roadsigns but the most local ones as it just sits on the A26. Uckfield which is on the junction of the A26 and A22 is on roadsigns for miles around.

Not sure if the same applies to roadmaps but it might.