Settlement » Settlement types, patterns, and hierarchies

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Different types of settlements (rural, urban, suburban)
Settlement patterns and why they form
Settlement hierarchies and their characteristics
Site and situation factors that influence settlements
How to analyse settlement case studies
Key terminology related to settlements

Introduction to Settlement Geography

Settlements are places where people live and work. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny hamlets to massive cities. Understanding how and why settlements develop helps us make sense of the world around us and plan for future development.

Key Definitions:

Settlement: A place where people live, ranging from a single house to a large city.
Site: The actual land on which a settlement is built (physical characteristics).
Situation: The location of a settlement relative to its surroundings (human and physical).
Settlement pattern: The way in which settlements are arranged across the landscape.
Settlement hierarchy: The ranking of settlements based on their size and importance.

Settlement Types

Settlements can be classified into different types based on their size, function and characteristics:

🏠 Rural Settlements

These are smaller settlements in countryside areas with lower population densities. They include:

Isolated dwellings: Single houses or farms standing alone
Hamlets: Very small clusters of houses (usually fewer than 100 people)
Villages: Small settlements with basic services like a primary school, post office and perhaps a small shop or pub

Rural settlements typically have strong agricultural connections and traditional industries.

🏙 Urban Settlements

These are larger settlements with higher population densities. They include:

Towns: Medium-sized settlements with a range of services and shops
Cities: Large settlements with extensive services, employment opportunities and cultural amenities
Conurbations: Where multiple urban areas grow and merge together

Urban settlements typically have diverse economic activities and more complex infrastructure.

🏡 Suburban Settlements

Suburbs are residential areas on the outskirts of cities. They often represent a middle ground between rural and urban, with:

Lower density housing than city centres
More green space than urban areas
Good transport links to the city
Local services and amenities

Many people choose to live in suburbs to balance access to urban jobs with more space and a quieter lifestyle.

Settlement Patterns

The arrangement of settlements across the landscape creates distinctive patterns that are influenced by physical features, historical development and human activities.

🗺 Dispersed

Settlements are scattered across the landscape with significant distances between them. Common in:

Farming areas where each farm needs large areas of land
Mountainous regions where flat land is limited
Areas with individual water sources

🗺 Nucleated

Settlements are clustered together in a central area. Common in:

Areas with a central water source
Defensive locations
Places where community farming was practiced
Crossroads or transport hubs

🗺 Linear

Settlements develop in a line, usually along a transport route or physical feature. Common along:

Roads and railways
Rivers and coastlines
Ridges or valleys
The edge of different landscapes

Settlement Hierarchies

Settlements can be organised into a hierarchy based on their size, importance and the range of services they provide. As you move up the hierarchy, settlements have:

Larger populations
More services and facilities
Higher-order goods and services (less frequently needed but more specialised)
Larger spheres of influence (the area from which they attract people)

Understanding the Settlement Hierarchy

Think of the settlement hierarchy like a pyramid:

At the top: Large cities and conurbations (e.g., London)
Middle layers: Cities and large towns (e.g., Manchester, Bristol)
Lower middle: Towns and large villages (e.g., market towns)
Base: Villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings

As you move up the hierarchy, there are fewer settlements but each one serves a larger area and population.

Factors Influencing Settlement Location

Why do settlements develop where they do? The answer lies in both site and situation factors:

📍 Site Factors (Physical)

Water supply: Access to fresh water for drinking and agriculture
Flat land: For building houses and growing crops
Defensive features: Hills, rivers, or other natural protection
Building materials: Local wood, stone, or other resources
Shelter: Protection from harsh weather conditions
Fertile soil: For growing food

📌 Situation Factors (Relative)

Transport links: Rivers, roads, railways, ports
Trade opportunities: Markets, crossroads, ports
Resources: Proximity to mines, forests, fishing grounds
Bridging points: Narrow river crossings
Relationship to other settlements: Distance from competitors
Political boundaries: Border locations for trade/defence

Case Study: London's Settlement Development

London provides an excellent example of how site and situation factors influence settlement growth:

Site factors: Located on the River Thames at its first easily bridgeable point, with gravel terraces providing dry ground above flood level.
Situation factors: Excellent transport connections via the Thames to the sea, positioned at a point where the river was narrow enough to bridge but deep enough for shipping.
Growth pattern: Started as a Roman settlement (Londinium), grew outward in a roughly circular pattern, then expanded along transport routes creating a star-shaped pattern.
Current form: Now a massive conurbation at the top of the UK settlement hierarchy, with satellite towns and cities in its sphere of influence.

Changes in Settlement Patterns Over Time

Settlements are not static - they change and evolve in response to various factors:

Urbanisation: The movement of people from rural to urban areas, causing cities to grow and rural areas to decline.
Suburbanisation: The outward growth of urban areas into surrounding countryside.
Counter-urbanisation: The movement of people out of cities into smaller settlements.
Re-urbanisation: The regeneration of inner-city areas, attracting people back to the city centre.

These processes are influenced by factors such as:

Economic changes (e.g., deindustrialisation, growth of service industries)
Transport developments (e.g., railways, motorways, public transport)
Technology (e.g., internet enabling remote working)
Government policies (e.g., green belts, new towns)
Social preferences (e.g., desire for more space, access to countryside)

Applying Your Knowledge

When studying settlements for your IGCSE Geography, remember to:

Use specific examples and case studies to support your points
Consider both physical and human factors that influence settlement development
Think about how settlements change over time and why
Use appropriate geographical terminology
Look for patterns and connections between different aspects of settlements

Try to observe settlement patterns in your local area - can you identify what type of settlement you live in, its pattern and its position in the hierarchy?