A settlement hierarchy refers to the arrangement of settlements within a given area into a certain

order of importance based upon the population size of a settlement, the range and number of
services provided by a settlement, and the sphere of influence or market area of a settlement.

The hierarchy of settlements is the product of the centrality of settlements in a region.

The centrality of a place is equal to its surplus of importance, that is, equal to the relative
importance of this place in regard to region belonging to it