Rural-Urban Links

Question 1

What is the location of significant areas of population in wales? (4)

Answer 1

• population density is highest in the South of Wales
• Population is also somewhat high in the North East
• The rest of Wales is sparsely populated
• With the exception of the coast which can have a slightly higher population density

Question 2

What is the population in mountainous areas of Wales like?And why? (1 + 2)

Answer 2

• Fewer people live in the mountains areas of wales
• Because it has a hilly relief (difficult to build on), lacks a wide variety of services, feels remote
• But they can also benefit form tourism

Question 3

What is the population of Cardiff like? And why? (1 +1)

Answer 3

• It has the highest population density in Wales
• Because it is the capital, close to the M4, built up area, many shops, jobs and services

Question 4

What is the rural-urban continuum?

Answer 4

Shows a transition between the two end of the continuum - rural and urban areas. It accommodates for areas that are between these classifications.

Question 5

What is a sphere of influence?

Answer 5

The area that is affected by or influenced by a particular settlement, service or employment

Question 6

How does retailing and urban services vary along the rural-urban continuum? (2)

Answer 6

• in rural areas: have fewer, basic retail outlets, have basic services but rely on urban areas for specialised services.
• in urban areas: higher population density, large number & wide variety of retail outlets, hubs for specialised services (healthcare, education, offices)

Question 7

What does ‘rural’ refer to?

Answer 7

Areas in the countryside, that are often less densely populated and often contain farmland

Question 8

What does ‘urban’ refer to?

Answer 8

Towns, cities and built - up areas with a higher population density.

Question 9

What is a settlement hierarchy?

Answer 9

A hierarchy that shows the different types of settlement. They get larger and less frequent towards the top of the hierarchy.

Question 10

What types of settlement are at the bottom of the settlement hierarchy?

Answer 10

Isolated dwellings and hamlets.

Question 11

Give the order of the settlement hierarchy from highest to lowest? (6)

Answer 11

1) Conurbation
2) City
3) Large Town
4) Small town
5) Village
6) Hamlet/isolated dwelling

Question 12

How does sphere of influence vary in relation to retailing and urban services? (2)

Answer 12

• a major urban centre often has a larger sphere of influence in retail, attracting shoppers from nearby smaller settlements (factors like transport links, uniqueness of goods, and distance to competing centres affect this)
• urban areas have more specialised services such as healthcare services, leading to a greater sphere of influence as they cater for nearby settlements. Rural areas have limited access to healthcare and so may have to travel great distances for comprehensive healthcare.

Question 13

Larger settlements have a _____ sphere of influence

Answer 13

larger

Question 14

What two main factors is provision of services in a settlement influenced by? (2)

Answer 14

• Threshold population (minimum number of people required to maintain a particular service)
• Range of a service (the maximum distance people are willing to travel for a particular service)

Question 15

What factors does the size of a sphere of influence depend on? (3)

Answer 15

• Settlement infrastructure and transport links (the better they are, the more people can access the settlement)
• Distance from cities (further settlement is from a city, the smaller the sphere of influence)
• Settlement size (larger settlement, higher population density, higher sphere of influence)

Question 16

What can chloropleth maps be used for? (4)

Answer 16

To show:
- population density
- rainfall
- vegetation cover
- land use

Question 17

What are the advantages of use of chloropleth maps? (3)

Answer 17

• Easy comparison between regions/areas
• Good for looking at changes over time
• Easy to produce

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of use of chloropleth maps? (3)

Answer 18

• can oversimplify data
  -Gives the impression that everything is the same within a colour block
• can be difficult to read if colour-blind or printed in greyscale

Question 19

What are dot distribution maps?

Answer 19

Each dot represents a specific piece of statistical data e.g. 100,000 people

Question 20

What are the advantages of using a dot distribution map? (4)

Answer 20

• can be used to show a wide range of data
• easy to construct
• easy to compare data across a single area
• good to show areas of interest

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of using a dot distribution map? (3)

Answer 21

• Overcrowding of dots can blur data and make it difficult to read
• Location of the dots can be subjective
• Creation can take a long time

Question 22

Push factors for urban areas (7)

Answer 22

• High crime rate
• Air pollution
• lower quality schools
• expensive housing
• lack of open and green spaces
• traffic congestion
• noise pollution

Question 23

What factors have been increasing commuting from rural tows to urban centres? (6)

Answer 23

• higher paying jobs in the city
• house prices are lower in rural areas, than urban areas
• increased ownership of affordable, fuel-efficient cars
• cheap access to smartphones allow work on the go
• signal and free wi-fi are available on trains and buses
• lower pollution levels in rural towns

Question 24

What are the environmental impacts of counter-urbanisation? (2)

Answer 24

• increased traffic congestion and pollution in rural areas as people commute to work
• building on greenfield land: loss of habitat and countryside to urban sprawl

Question 25

What are the economic impacts of counter-urbanisation? (3)

Answer 25

• house prices in rural areas increase as demand rises
• local people find it difficult to afford houses and have to move away
• migrants tend not to support local services and instead shop in the urban areas in which they work

Question 26

What are the social impacts of counter-urbanisation? (5)

Answer 26

• conflict between local residents and ‘newcomers’
• traditions of the village aren’t valued by newcomers leading to a loss of community spirit
• some local services supported (public houses, local tradesmen)
• local rural schools have increased numbers and can stay open
• old derelict farm buildings are turned into habitable dwellings, adding aesthetic value, increasing community wellbeing

Question 27

Explain the process of rural depopulation and deprivation (6)

Answer 27

1) very few houses are built in the countryside due to low local population and limited local requirements
2) high demand for rural housing from wealthy families from urban areas looking for second/holiday homes
3) the price of rural housing is forced up
4) local people (especially young adults) cannot afford to buy a house close to their families
5) local people are forced out the area
6) the full-time residential population of the area declines, forcing local services (schools, banks, buses) and shops to close

Question 28

What are the causes of rural poverty? (5)

Answer 28

• lack of local employment
• decline in services and shops
• increased house prices
• closure of rural schools
• limited public transport

Question 29

What does a ‘deprived community’ mean?

Answer 29

A community that lacks features that are usually regarded as necessary for a reasonable standard of living

Question 30

What is depopulation?

Answer 30

Reduction of the amount of people living in an area

Question 31

What is a sustainable community?

Answer 31

A place that is able to adequately support the needs of all the residents, providing a good quality of life now and, in the future

Question 32

What is Egan’s wheel?

Answer 32

The wheel shows the criteria that we use to judge whether a community is sustainable or not. To be sustainable, it must have the appropriate level of elements from each of the segments.

Question 33

What factors are contributing to a lack of services in rural areas? (6)

Answer 33

• daytime commuting
• larger sphere of influence of urban areas
• second-homes
• aging populations
• online (shopping and banking)
• better, cheaper, faster transport

Question 34

Explain transport issues in rural communities

Answer 34

Many rural areas have infrequent public transport, leaving people isolated as many cannot afford cars

Question 35

Explain employments issues in rural communities

Answer 35

As a result of poor education and closure of shops and services in rural communities, there are a lack of opportunities for employment