Settlement

Hierarchy of settlements

Settlement: a place where people live

High-order settlements are bigger in size but small in number (urban). Low-order settlements are
smaller in size but large in number (rural).
Urban: towns and cities
Rural: countryside
Sphere of influence: the distance or area people travel from to access a service
Threshold population: the minimum number of people needed to provide a large enough demand
for a service
Range: the number of different services in an area
High order goods: goods that people dont use frequently. They are usually expensive.
Low order goods: goods that people use almost every day. They are usually cheap.

Rural settlements

Nucleated

Dispersed

Linear

Factors affecting the sites and development of rural settlements

Agricultural land use / Soils

Relief altitude and gradient
Aspect
Water supply
Drainage and flooding
Accessibility

Urban settlements

Urbanisation: the growth of towns and cities

Counter urbanisation: movement of people back from urban to rural areas
Mega cities: cities with populations of over ten million

Factors influencing the size, growth and functions of urban settlements

Nodal points (route centres)

Agricultural centres
Ports
Administrative towns and cities

Urban land use

CBD
Residential areas
Flats
Shanty houses

Open spaces
Industrial areas
Transport routes

Urban structures

H
omelessnes

Probl

ems of
urbanisation

Congestion
Pollutions (noise, visual, water and air)
Destruction of green fields
Water shortages
Unemployment

s
Crime

Solution to the problems of the CBD

Pedestrianisation
Shopping malls not in CBDs
Visual improvements
Security

Urban sprawl: the spread or growth of an urban area into the rural-urban fringe