Part 1: Introduction & Site vs.
Situation
What is a Settlement?
A settlement is any place where people live, build homes, work, and interact.
Settlements vary widely in size, function, and complexity, ranging from isolated farms
to sprawling megacities.
Factors Influencing Settlement Location
1. Site Factors (Physical Environment)
Site refers to the specific physical land where a settlement is built.
Water Supply: Access to fresh drinking water, agriculture, and power (e.g.,
rivers, springs).
Building Materials: Proximity to timber, stone, or clay.
Defense: High ground, hilltops, or river meanders that offer protection against
invaders.
Relief & Landform: Flat land is easier to build on and farm compared to
steep terrain.
Climate & Aspect: Sheltered locations, south-facing slopes in the Northern
Hemisphere (maximizing sunlight).
Fuel Source: Availability of wood, peat, or coal nearby.
2. Situation Factors (Regional Context)
Situation refers to a settlement’s location relative to surrounding physical and human
features.
Accessibility: Proximity to trade routes, rivers, coastlines, or mountain
passes.
Transport Hubs: Crossroads, bridges, or natural harbors (bridging points).
Economic Connections: Nearby natural resources (mines, fertile soil) and
market opportunities.
Part 2: Settlement Patterns & Structure
Common Settlement Patterns
Pattern Type Characteristics Key Drivers
Large agricultural land
Dwellings are spread widely
Dispersed requirements, mountainous
across a large area.
terrain, or rugged landscapes.
Nucleated Buildings are grouped Defense needs, communal
Pattern Type Characteristics Key Drivers
closely together around a water sources, or major
(Clustered)
central point. junctions.
Following roads, riverbanks,
Dwellings stretch out in a
Linear railways, or narrow valley
line along a feature.
floors.
Dispersed Nucleated Linear
• • ••• ••••••
• ••••• =============== (Road/River)
• • ••• ••••••
Part 3: Settlement Hierarchy & Functions
The Urban Hierarchy
Settlements are organized hierarchically based on population size, number of
services provided, and sphere of influence.
/\
/ \ Megacity / Conurbation (Highest order, fewest)
/ \ City
/ \ Large Town
/ \ Small Town
/ \ Village
/____________\ Hamlet / Isolated Dwelling (Lowest order, most frequent)
Key Concepts
Services: Amenities provided to the public (e.g., post offices, schools,
specialized hospitals).
Order of Services:
o Low-Order Services: Frequently needed, inexpensive goods (e.g.,
bread, newspapers, basic grocery stores). Available in small
settlements.
o High-Order Services: Infrequently bought, specialized/expensive
items (e.g., universities, international airports, luxury clothing). Found
only in large towns/cities.
Threshold Population: The minimum number of people required to support a
specific service.
Range: The maximum distance people are willing to travel to use a service.
Sphere of Influence: The geographic area served by a settlement.
Part 4: Urban Land-Use Models & Issues
Classic Urban Land-Use Models
1. Burgess Concentric Zone Model (1925)
Cities grow outward in concentric rings from the center:
1. CBD (Central Business District): High commercial activity, highest land
value.
2. Zone of Transition: Light manufacturing, older housing/slums.
3. Inner City / Working-Class Housing: Low-income residential areas.
4. Outer Suburbs: Middle- and high-income residential areas with larger
homes.
5. Commuter Zone: Rural-urban fringe.
2. Hoyt Sector Model (1939)
Cities develop in wedges or sectors along transport corridors (roads, railways,
rivers) originating from the CBD:
Industry and low-income housing align along railway lines/heavy transport
routes.
High-class housing develops along scenic, pleasant, or high-ground transport
corridors away from industry.
Contemporary Urban Issues
Urbanization: An increasing percentage of a country's population living in
urban areas.
Urban Sprawl: The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into neighboring
countryside.
Gentrification: The regeneration of run-down inner-city areas, raising land
value but often displacing lower-income residents.
Urban Challenges: Traffic congestion, air/water pollution, housing shortages,
informal settlements (shantytowns/slums), and waste management.