Settlements in Villages

Settlements can range from small hamlets to very
large cities. They can be identified by their pattern

or the functions they offer. Some settlements have
altered over time due to changes in transport and
shopping patterns.
Contents
Site and situation
Settlement types
Settlement patterns
Urban change and regeneration
Site and situation

Settlements are places where people live. Many
settlements have things in common and so they can be
grouped to make it easier to study them.
Site and situation
Site this is the place where the settlement is located, eg
on a hill or in a sheltered valley.
Situation this describes where the settlement is in
relation to other settlements and the features of the
surrounding area, eg is the settlement surrounded by
forest or is it next to a large city?
Early settlements
Early settlers often looked for certain features in an area
to make life easier:
flat land, to make building easier and safer
local raw materials, eg wood and stone, to build

homes
a local water supply for drinking, washing, cooking

and transport
dry land, so thap people can build on areas that

dont flood
a defendable site, eg a hilltop or river bend, to

protect from attackers
good farm land with fertile soils, so people could

grow crops
shelter, eg to protect from bad weather
transport links, eg a ford or low crossing point of a

river
Settlement types
Settlements can vary in size and shape. Some people live alone or with their
family in single properties, eg farmers, but most group together in towns and
cities.
The table below shows one way of dividing settlements into different types. It is
worth remembering, though, that a village in one part of the world may be
considered to be a town in another.
Settlement type
Description
Hamlet
This is a very small group of

homes. There are unlikely to be
Settlement type
Description
many other facilities.
Village
This is larger than a hamlet and

contains more functions, eg a
few shops, a post office, a
village hall and possibly a
primary school and a doctor's
practice. Villages can vary in size
from a few hundred people to
several thousand.
Town
This may contain tens of

thousands of people. Towns
have a range of functions such
as shopping centres, secondary
schools, railway stations and
hospitals.
City
A city is an area with large

numbers of people. Cities
provide a very wide range of
functions including more
specialised functions such as
universities, large hospitals and
Settlement type
Description
sports stadiums. In the past
cities were identified as places
containing cathedrals but today
the Queen decides which places
are cities, based on a number of
different factors including the
size of the population.
Settlement patterns
Land use patterns within urban areas

Towns and cities are often complex but it may be possible
to see how some land uses group together in zones.
The diagram opposite shows a simple version of the
concentric or Burgess model. It shows a simple land use
pattern that can be identified in some towns and cities,
particularly in countries like the UK. In general, the oldest
parts are in the centre and the newer parts on the edge.
Zone
Features
1. CBD - central
business district
This zone contains functions such

as shops,entertainment and of
ces. Traditionally, these needed to
be accessible and in central
positions so they could attract
enough customers and workers.
2. Inner city
In the past, this area contained

tightly packed workers' houses and
factories. Businesses had to be
centrally located and workers had
to be nearby because most people
had to walk to work. There were
few areas of open land. This area
has many of the oldest buildings
but some inner city areas have
been changed
or redeveloped. Terraced houses
and high-rise flats have been built
because they take up less space.
3. Inner suburbs
Over time, cities spread out and

suburbs were created as transport
improved and became cheaper.
Land was cheaper here so houses
were bigger, often semidetached with larger gardens.
4. Outer suburbs
This zone is near the edge of the

city. It contains some larger,
modern, detached homes and
housing estates. Over
time, retail parks have been built in
this area. They contain large
supermarkets and chain
stores. Businesses have also
moved to this zone to take
advantage of good transport links.
Urban change and regeneration

As towns and cities have grown, some areas have become
run down. This is particularly true of some old inner-city
areas. Governments have tried to improve conditions in
these areas.
Problems of old inner-city areas and the city centre
include:
overcrowding
poor-quality housing
traffic congestion
lack of open space
old industrial areas (brownfield sites)
competition from out-of-town shopping centres
expensive land
This has encouraged some people and industries to move

out of central areas and has contributed to urban sprawl.
This can put pressure on greenfield siteson the edge of
the city. Some people are concerned about losing green

open spaces. Green belts are protected areas that have
been set up around some cities to help prevent urban
sprawl.
Not everyone is moving out
Central areas of cities still remain very popular places to

live for many reasons:
close to amenities
good transport links, eg buses and train services
close to shops
good choice of cafes, pubs and restaurants
a variety of entertainment, eg cinema, parks and

theatres
close-knit communities
more job opportunities
local schools
colleges and universities
There has been an increase in the number of people living

in central parts of cities in recent years. This is
called reurbanisation.

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Settlements can range from small hamlets to very

large cities. They can be identified by their pattern

Site and situation

Urban change and regeneration

Site and situation

flat land, to make building easier and safer

local raw materials, eg wood and stone, to build

a local water supply for drinking, washing, cooking

dry land, so thap people can build on areas that

a defendable site, eg a hilltop or river bend, to

good farm land with fertile soils, so people could

shelter, eg to protect from bad weather

transport links, eg a ford or low crossing point of a

This is a very small group of

many other facilities.

This is larger than a hamlet and

This may contain tens of

A city is an area with large

Land use patterns within urban areas

This zone contains functions such

In the past, this area contained

Over time, cities spread out and

This zone is near the edge of the

Urban change and regeneration

lack of open space

old industrial areas (brownfield sites)

competition from out-of-town shopping centres

This has encouraged some people and industries to move

the city. Some people are concerned about losing green

Central areas of cities still remain very popular places to

good transport links, eg buses and train services

good choice of cafes, pubs and restaurants

a variety of entertainment, eg cinema, parks and

more job opportunities

colleges and universities

There has been an increase in the number of people living

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