Central Place Theory

Who devised Central Place Theory?

• Devised by German Geographer Christopher Walter in 1933.

What does the Central Place Theory try and explain?

• The size and distribution of Settlements

How Did Christopher Walter come to his theory?

• Through studying Southern Germany

What does The Central Place Theory Describe?

• Describes an Urban Centre which provides goods and services to a larger surrounding area called the Hinterland

How can an Urban Area vary?

• Vary in size from Small Village to a large city

What does Central Place Theory show?

• How settlements are spread apart so they do not compete.

What are the main parts of The Central Place Theory

• Range

• Hierarchy of Goods

• Threshold

What does Range refer to?

• Range refers to the distance people are willing to travel for a good or service.

What’s an example of a small and large range good?

• Small Range = Milk / Bread

• Large Range = Car / TV

What does Hierarchy of Goods refer to?

• The availability of goods and the kinds of goods alters the distances willing to be travelled.

• E.G Milk is widely available and not requiring long distance travel

Whats an example of a Low and High Order Product?

• Low Order Good = Milk

• High Order Good = Mortgage, Engagement Rings etc

What does Threshold refer to?

• The amount of customers a business requires to remain open.

What types of Businesses require a large and small amount of customers?

• Large Customer Base = Luxury Shops / Car Dealerships

• Small Customer Base = Shops

What is the Hinterland?

• The area surrounding a Central Place

• Serves as a market for The Central Area

What are Criticisms of The Central Place Theory?

• Does not take into account Modern Transport

• Doesn’t take into account Irrational shopping

• Physical Factors aren’t taken into account