AP Human Geography: Unit 4 - Central Place Theory

Central Place Theory Overview

Purpose: Predicts the location and formation of urban settlements (hamlets, villages, towns, cities) based on trade and economic influence.
Conceptual Framework: Non-competing market areas determining city placement; spatial distribution of settlements forms a system.

Flat Surface: Assumes the landscape is flat with no physical barriers (mountains, rivers) that could affect trade routes and settlement placement.
Uniform Soil Fertility: Considers soil fertility as consistent, ignoring differences in agricultural productivity that could influence settlement viability.
Even Population Distribution: Presumes that population and purchasing power are uniformly distributed across the area, which does not reflect real-world demographics.
Uniform Transportation Network: Assumes a consistent transportation system that allows equal access to markets and goods in all directions (north, south, east, west).

Hamlet:
- Definition: Smallest urban settlement; typically a few hundred people.
- Key Characteristics: Offers minimal goods/services; typically a convenience store.
- Hexagonal Trade Area: Central place located in the middle of the hexagon, defining the hamlet's economic influence.
Village:
- Definition: Larger than a hamlet, it contains more amenities.
- Goods/Services: Grocery stores, schools, churches, gas stations, possibly a small restaurant (e.g., McDonald's).
- Trade Area: Overlaps hamlet areas but must be sufficiently distanced to prevent competition with other villages.
Town:
- Definition: A more substantial settlement with diverse facilities.
- Goods/Services: Chain restaurants, larger grocery stores, hospitals, schools (middle and high schools), and commercial businesses (e.g., Target).
- Trade Area: Larger hexagonal area overlapping with villages or hamlets but not with other towns.
City:
- Definition: Largest urban settlement, capable of supporting a vast array of services.
- Goods/Services: Offers everything—airports, art galleries, universities, and various entertainment and retail options.
- Trade Area: Largest hinterland hexagon, encompassing all smaller settlements' trade areas.

Hexagonal Shape: Trade areas for settlements take the form of hexagons to avoid overlap and competition.
Interlocking Trade Areas: Cities, towns, villages, and hamlets are positioned to interlock hexagonally, ensuring that their trade areas do not compete.

Influence of Trade: Each settlement influences a specific trade area based on the goods and services offered, leading to unique economic zones.
Distance Between Settlements: As one moves from hamlets to cities, the distance between trade areas increases; hamlets are closely spaced, while cities are spread far apart (e.g., couple hundred miles).

Not Always Accurate: While the Central Place Theory provides a framework, it may not account for all real-world variables such as geographical features and modern urban development trends.
Urban Coalescence: In reality, overlapping trade areas can lead to the formation of integrated metropolitan areas.

Zoning Importance: Cities often divide regions into commercial, residential, and industrial zones to enhance livability and functional usability; mixed-use developments are becoming more popular.
Land Values: Mid rent is the cost per square foot of land, significantly affected by location (most expensive in CBD).
Demand and Supply: Scarcity of land in urban areas drives prices up, while more affordable land is typically found in suburban or rural areas.

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard): This phenomenon illustrates community resistance to new developments in their vicinity, such as schools or incinerators, highlighting the conflict between local interests and urban planning needs.