Topic 2 - How are places made/labelled

What factors contribute to a places unique character?

Physical geography: Landscape, climate, location, geology, natural resources

Human geography: Language, products, services, rituals, clothing

What 2 types of factors affect a places characteristics and what are they

Endogenous - characteristics of the place itself or factors that have originated internally. For example, location, population size, employment rates.

Exogenous factors - relationship of a place with other places and the external factors which affect this. Socio-economic and cultural characteristics are shaped by shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment. For example. a commuter city has a strong flow of people leaving it so it has more congestion during work hours.

Endogenous factors that affect the character of place

Relief, altitude, aspect(where slopes face), population size, land use, building materials. Job opportunities and education can be both endogenous and exogenous

Exogenous factors affecting the character of place

Heritage, religion, language, role and strength of local councils, proximity of other main settlements, roads and physical features like rivers and the coast.

How do the factors weigh up in terms of past and present in Preston?

Endogenous factors are important in the past but exogenous are important in the present in Preston. One of Preston's distinct endogenous factors was being located next to a river.

Preston has relatively low relief and altitude with west facing slopes and medium drainage. It also has a docks.

What was Preston like from 1650-present day

1650: staging post consisting of stables and inns because Preston was located on the main road from London to Carlisle.

1715: Agricultural town with no building on flood plains as a small village.

1760: Start of industrial revolution, international trade and rises of factories.

1850: height of industrial revolution with extensive railwork around the town. Large factories and terraced housing were built.

1914: WW1 stopped global trade and Japan became the number 1 transporter of cotton. Rapid urban development led to a prison being built because of more crime.

1950: Post WW2 saw counties coming to help Britain rebuild the economy and the South Asian community began to grow. Britain’s first motorway was built.

Present day: M6 developed, start of suburbanisation, lost connection with place, parks built and better work legislation.

What are endogenous factors

Characteristics of the place itself or of factors that have originated internally. For example, location, land use, gradient, population size.

What are exogenous factors

The relationship of one place with other places and the external factors which affect this. The demographic, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of a place are shaped by shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment.

What is a clone town?

Urban retail areas dominated by national and international chain stores. For example, some high streets

Positives of clone towns

High economic value

Connected to global markets

People feel more comfortable

Socially comfortable

Negatives of clone towns

Independent businesses can’t compete

Not attractive to go to.

They become “nowhere”. There is no point visiting that place as a tourist

What is a tourist place?

A place who’s only function and reason for being is tourism. For example, the Canary Islands

What is a pseudo place?

A place with no real sense of history or belonging. For example, cities in China that are new - because they are rapidly built and all look the same

What is a placeless place

Global hotel chains, airports - identical wherever you are in the world