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Aspect and shelter

Settlements were built in sheltered areas such as valleys or in bays on coastal locations. Aspect (the direction in which a settlement faces) was also an important consideration. Settlements would be more ideally located on south-facing slopes in the Northern Hemisphere and on north-facing slopes in the Southern Hemisphere. For example, in Britain, it was an advantage to be sheltered from cold winds blowing from the north, and to be facing south which meant more sunlight.

Settlement sites

Bridging point

Where a river was shallow enough to be crossed (a ford) or narrow enough to easily build a bridge (e.g. Oxford).

Dry-point

In especially wet areas, settlements were built on slightly raised land to avoid flooding or the unhealthy marshland (e.g. Ely in Cambridgeshire).

Nodal point

Where natural routes meet, such as several valleys (e.g. York) or at the confluence of two rivers (e.g. St Louis on the Mississippi).

Defensive

In order to protect themselves from attack, settlements were built within a river meander, with the river giving protection on three sides, e.g. Shrewsbury, or on a hill with good views, e.g. Edinburgh.

Wet-point

These settlements were built at a source of water in an otherwise dry area. For example, in lowland Britain, many settlements were built at springs at the foot of chalk escarpments, e.g. Kemsingat near the North Downs.

How important are physical site factors today?

Technology means that many site factors are no longer very critical in influencing the site of a settlement. For example, water is piped, road networks allow the delivery of food supplies via supermarkets, and computers and the internet provide communication. Political, social or economic factors are usually more important.

In August 2004, the South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun announced that the capital was to relocate in order to ease overcrowding, redistribute the state’s wealth and lessen the danger of attack by North Korea. Seoul has been the capital since 1392. The new city will be located 100 miles to the south. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2007 and completed by 2030. The government estimates costs at 45 trillion won, or 40 billion US dollars.

What is the situation of a settlement?

Situation: describes where a settlement is located in relation to other surrounding features such as other settlements, rivers and communications.

How is the shape of a settlement classified?

What is the function of a settlement?

The function of a settlement relates to its economic and social development and refers to its main activities.

• mining town
• tourist resort
• residential
• commercial
• administration
• route centre
• manufacturing
• port
• cultural
• religious
• market town

Every settlement has a residential function. Most settlements are multi-functional (have more than one function). In addition, most settlements have had a change in function from their original one.

What is the settlement hierarchy based upon?

The order of settlements within the settlement hierarchy is usually based on one of the following:

Organising a hierarchy by population size

The population figures for each type of settlement are really just a guide, as it is difficult to give a cut-off figure for when a hamlet becomes a village, or a village becomes a town.

In some countries, so-called villages can be very big.  For example, some villages in India may be as large as a British town.

More shops and services in larger settlements

Land use models - Why do geographers study models?

Geographers use models to help them understand reality. Land use models tell us where we might expect to find different land uses like high quality housing or industry. They also help to explain the pattern of growth of a city.

Land use models – Sector Model

Hoyt developed his model after the introduction of public transport. He claimed that land uses developed in sectors along main transport routes.

Why does land use vary?

Land values are a major influence on land use patterns, but they are not the only factor.

The Central Business District (CBD)

Inner city

The inner city includes a variety of land uses. Originally it used to be an area of nineteenth-century terraced housing for factory workers. Some of this housing has been now replaced with high rise flats.

The suburbs

The suburbs grew most rapidly in the UK with the growth of the rail network. This allowed people easier access to the city centre for work and recreation.

The suburbs contain a mixture of housing which tends to be more spacious and modern than the housing found in the inner city. We can divide the suburbs into inner and outer suburbs.

Urban redevelopment

After the Second World War, the British Government realised that they needed more housing due to bomb damaged and poor-quality terraced housing, as well as predicted population growth. This was especially important in inner city areas.

Therefore, in the 1950s and 1960s, poor-quality terraces were knocked down and replaced with tower blocks.

Urban Redevelopment

Tower blocks were cheap to build and provided a large number of dwellings in a small space.

Tower blocks were built in the inner city and on the edge of cities.

The buildings in the suburbs were a mixture of low-rise buildings and high-rise tower blocks.

How can urban traffic problems be managed?

Congestion charging scheme

Improving bus services

Cutting fares on buses and limiting increases on fares on the underground

Proposals for ‘Crossrail’ – a new rail network across the city from S to W and SW to NE

Greenfield and brownfield development

Land that has already been built upon

Land that hasn’t been built upon before