1.5 Settlements and service provision Flashcards
Describe a dispersed settlement
Isolated building/2 or 3 buildings separated from the next by 2 or 3 km.
Describe a linear settlement
Buildings are strung along a line of communication (e.g main road)
Describe a nucleated settlement
Buildings are group together (normally for a common resource)
Site
Physical nature of where a settlement is located
Situation
Where the settlement is in relation to other settlements and physical features around it.
Factors influencing settlement growth (7)
Dry/wet point site (good water supply vs less risk of flooding)
Building material available (wood, stone)
Fuel supply (heating+cooking+industry)
Food supplies (e.g. land suitable for farming)
Nodal points (where routes converge)
Aspect (south vs north)
Shelter (from winds and rain)
Function of a settlement
The purpose of a settlement (e.g. mining)
Hierarchy of settlements
List of settlements in order of population size, range and number of services, and sphere of influence.
Sphere of influence
Distance people travel from to access a service and therefore the area served by this settlement/service
Services
facilities that are offered to people
Threshold population
Minimum amount of people required for a service to be offered and remain open.
Range
Number of different services
High order goods
Goods people buy less frequently, tend to be expensive, people will compare these products. They have a large sphere of influence.
Low order goods
Goods people on a daily basis, are cheap and have a small sphere of influence.
Hierarchy of services
Rank of services in order of importance - based on the threshold population and frequency of use.
High order services
Services with a large threshold population. Usually offered in small numbers and only found in large settlements.
Low order services
Services with a small threshold population. Usually in large numbers and offered in most settlements.
High order settlements
Settlements fewer in number, spaced further apart and have a wide range of services.
Low order settlements
Settlements larger in number, closely spaced and have a small range of services.
Function of rural areas
Agriculture and low-order services
Functions of urban areas
Middle and high order services. Big range.