Settlement (Prelim)

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Settlement

A place where people live permanently or temporarily, ranging from a single farmstead to a large city.

Rural settlement

A settlement with a relatively low population density where primary economic activities, especially agriculture, dominate.

Urban settlement

A densely populated settlement where secondary, tertiary and quaternary economic activities dominate.

Difference between rural and urban settlement

Rural settlements generally have lower population densities and primary activities, while urban settlements have higher population densities and mainly secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities.

Farmstead

The smallest rural settlement, consisting of a farmhouse and associated outbuildings.

Hamlet

A small group of houses or farmsteads with very few services.

Village

A settlement larger than a hamlet that usually provides basic services such as a shop, school or church.

Town

An urban settlement smaller than a city that provides employment and a range of services.

City

A large urban settlement with a large population and numerous economic activities and services.

Metropolis

A major city that dominates a surrounding region and is associated with smaller dependent settlements.

Conurbation

A large built-up urban area formed when neighbouring towns or cities grow together.

Megalopolis

A very large urban region formed when several conurbations merge.

Site of a settlement

The exact piece of land or physical location on which a settlement is built.

Situation of a settlement

The location of a settlement in relation to surrounding features, transport routes, markets and other settlements.

Difference between site and situation

Site refers to the physical characteristics of the exact location, while situation refers to the settlement's relationship with surrounding places and features.

Main physical site factors influencing settlement location

Water supply, relief, fertile soil, climate, vegetation, drainage, natural resources, building materials and protection from hazards.

Importance of water as a site factor

Water is needed for drinking, domestic use, agriculture and industry.

Importance of fertile soil as a site factor

Fertile soil supports agriculture and food production.

Importance of relief when selecting a settlement site

Flat or gently sloping land is easier and cheaper to build on and develop.

Importance of climate when selecting a settlement site

A favourable climate supports agriculture and provides more comfortable living conditions.

Importance of natural resources as site factors

They provide raw materials and employment opportunities that encourage settlement development.

Importance of defence as a site factor

Defensive locations can provide protection and allow inhabitants to detect approaching threats.

Wet-point settlement

A settlement that develops where water is readily available.

Reason for wet-point settlements development

People require reliable access to water for domestic and economic activities.

Dry-point settlement

A settlement built on dry land near water but away from marshes, floods or waterlogged areas.

Reason for dry-point settlements development

To gain access to nearby water while avoiding flooding and waterlogged conditions.

Main situation factors influencing settlement location

Accessibility, transport routes, communication routes, markets, nearby settlements and economic links.

Importance of accessibility for settlement development

It allows people, goods and services to move easily to and from a settlement.

Importance of transport routes for settlement development

They improve accessibility, encourage trade and support economic growth.

Importance of proximity to markets

It reduces transport costs and makes it easier to sell goods and access services.

Change in importance of settlement location over time

Early settlements depended mainly on physical site factors, while modern settlements are increasingly influenced by economic, political and technological factors.

Settlement pattern

The spacing or distribution of buildings within a settlement.

Settlement shape

The overall arrangement or layout of a settlement in relation to physical or human features.

Nucleated settlement

A settlement where buildings are closely grouped together.

Dispersed settlement

A settlement where buildings are spread far apart.

Linear settlement

A settlement that develops along a feature such as a road, railway, river or coastline.

Crossroads settlement

A settlement that develops where two or more transport routes intersect.

Factors influencing settlement patterns

Relief, water availability, transport routes, farming practices, land ownership and economic activities.

Settlement function

The main economic or social role performed by a settlement.

Specialised settlement

A settlement whose economy is dominated by one major function or activity.

Administrative town

A settlement whose main function is government and administration.

Industrial town

A settlement whose main function is manufacturing.

Mining town

A settlement that developed because of mining activities.

Recreational town

A settlement whose main function is tourism and leisure.

Military town

A settlement associated mainly with defence and military activities.

Primary economic activities

Activities that use or extract natural resources directly, such as farming, fishing, forestry and mining.

Secondary economic activities

Activities that process raw materials into manufactured products.

Tertiary economic activities

Services provided to people and businesses, such as banking, healthcare, education and transport.

Quaternary economic activities

Knowledge-based activities involving research, information, technology and specialised expertise.

Unifunctional rural settlements

They are usually dominated by one main primary activity, such as farming.

Multifunctional urban settlements

They contain a wide range of secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities.

Settlement hierarchy

The ranking of settlements according to their size, functions, services, importance and degree of specialisation.

Urban hierarchy

The ranking of urban settlements according to population size, physical size, functions and importance.

Reason for settlements forming a hierarchy

Settlements differ in population size, number of functions, level of specialisation and importance.

Factors determining a settlement's position in the hierarchy

Population size, physical size, number of functions, degree of specialisation and importance.

Settlement hierarchy forming a pyramid

There are many small settlements but relatively few large settlements.

Settlement number in relation to size increase

The number of settlements decreases.

Function variety with settlement size increase

The number and variety of functions generally increase.

Central place

A settlement that provides goods and services to people in the surrounding area.

Low-order centre

A small settlement providing mainly basic goods and services to a small surrounding population.

High-order centre

A large settlement providing both basic and specialised goods and services to a large surrounding population.

Low-order goods

Cheap, frequently purchased goods that people travel short distances to obtain.

High-order goods

Expensive or specialised goods that people buy less frequently and are willing to travel further to obtain.

Low-order function

A basic service used frequently and found in many settlements.

High-order function

A specialised service used less frequently and usually found in larger settlements.

Sphere of influence

The area from which a settlement or service attracts its customers.

Market area

The area served by a settlement or business.

Threshold population

The minimum number of people needed to support a particular service or business.

Range of a good or service

The maximum distance people are prepared to travel to obtain it.

Central Place Theory

A theory explaining how settlements are distributed to provide goods and services efficiently to surrounding populations.

Developer of Central Place Theory

Walter Christaller.

Use of hexagons in Central Place Theory

Hexagons can cover an area without gaps or overlaps.

Primate city

The largest and most dominant city in a country that is significantly larger or more important than other cities.

Anomaly in a settlement hierarchy

A settlement that does not fit the normal pattern or ranking of the hierarchy.

Rural-urban migration

The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.

Rural depopulation

A decrease in the number of people living in rural areas, mainly because of migration to urban areas.

Link between rural-urban migration and rural depopulation

As people move from rural to urban areas, the rural population decreases.

Push factor

A factor that encourages or forces people to leave an area.

Pull factor

A factor that attracts people to another area.

Common rural push factors

Unemployment, poverty, drought, poor services, low agricultural productivity, limited education and poor healthcare.

Common urban pull factors

Employment opportunities, higher wages, better education, healthcare, infrastructure and services.

Mechanisation's contribution to rural-urban migration

Machines replace agricultural workers, reducing employment opportunities in rural areas.

Unemployment's encouragement of rural-urban migration

People move to urban areas in search of employment opportunities.

Low rural wages' encouragement of migration

People may move to urban areas in search of higher incomes.

Most likely group to migrate from rural areas

Young, economically active adults.

Groups often left behind in rural areas

Older people, children and, in some cases, women.

Economic consequence of rural depopulation

A reduced labour force and reduced economic activity.

Social consequence of rural depopulation

An ageing population and reduced access to services.

Effect of rural depopulation on schools and healthcare facilities

Falling populations can make these services difficult to maintain.

Effect of rural depopulation on agriculture

Labour shortages can reduce agricultural production.

Cycle of decline from rural depopulation

Population loss reduces services and economic opportunities, causing even more people to leave.

Effect of rural-urban migration on cities

It can increase pressure on housing, employment, infrastructure and basic services.

How employment opportunities can reduce rural depopulation

Local jobs give people economic reasons to remain in rural areas.

How improving services can reduce rural depopulation

Better education, healthcare, transport and infrastructure improve rural quality of life.

How rural tourism can reduce depopulation

It creates employment and income opportunities.

How agricultural development can reduce rural depopulation

Improving farming productivity and profitability can create employment and encourage people to remain.

How improved infrastructure can support rural development

Better roads, communication and services improve accessibility and attract economic activity.

Importance of local development strategies in rural areas

They create sustainable employment and improve living conditions.

Social justice

The fair and equal distribution of opportunities, resources and rights within society.

Injustice

Unfair treatment or the violation of people's rights.