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Settlement Patterns and Urbanization

Settlement Patterns in Canada

  • Three distinct settlement patterns emerged during European settlement:
    • Quebec Long Lots: Narrow, long lots to access water for living, agriculture, and transport.
    • Ontario Concession System: Road and lot network parallel/perpendicular to water bodies.
    • Prairie Section System: Square townships divided into 36 sections of 640 acres; homesteads were 160-acre quarter sections.

Types of Settlement Patterns

  • Linear Settlements: Along roads or waterways (e.g., Quebec Long Lots).
  • Dispersed Settlements: Spread out, common in agriculture (e.g., Ontario Concession System, Prairie Section System).
  • Nucleated Settlements: Gathered around a central hub (crossroads, mine, church).
  • Isolated Settlements: Small, distant communities.

Rural-to-Urban Migration

  • Reasons:
    • Reduced farm labor needs due to modernization (e.g., tractors).
    • Improved mobility reducing the need for local stores.
    • Consolidation of goods & services in urban areas.

Urban-to-Rural Migration

  • Reasons:
    • Health issues, security, "community".
    • "Back to nature" movement.
    • Increase in telecommuting.
    • Cheaper land and house prices.

Urban Settlement Hierarchy

  • Hamlet → Village → Town → City

Characteristics of Urban Settlements

  • Hamlets: Small unincorporated communities.
  • Villages: Larger than hamlets, limited employment (agriculture, local services).
  • Towns: Derive living from manufacturing, commerce, and public services.
  • Cities: Densely populated with members working in secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary industries.