Settlements Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is a settlement?
A place where people establish a community.
What is settlement hierarchy?
The arrangement of settlements in order of importance by size and services.
What are settlement functions?
Roles like residential, commercial, industrial, and administrative.
What is site?
The physical location of a settlement.
What is situation?
The settlement’s location relative to other places.
What is a nucleated settlement?
Buildings clustered around a central point like a village green.
What is a dispersed settlement?
Buildings are spread out over a large area.
What is a linear settlement?
Buildings arranged in a line, often along a road, river, or valley.
What is a settlement hierarchy example?
Hamlet < Village < Town < City < Megacity (based on population and services).
Name and describe the smallest type of settlement.
Isolated dwelling – consists of only 1–2 buildings, often a single farm.
What factors influence a settlement’s site?
Water supply, soil fertility, climate.
What factors influence a settlement’s situation?
Proximity to trade routes, transport links, neighboring towns.
Compare nucleated and dispersed settlements.
Nucleated: clustered; Dispersed: spread out.
How do settlements change over time?
Urbanization, population growth, infrastructure development (e.g., Shenzhen from village to megacity).
What is urban growth?
Increase in size and population of towns/cities, often due to rural-urban migration.
What are push and pull factors in urban migration?
Push: lack of jobs/services. Pull: better opportunities and facilities.
What services do urban areas provide?
Jobs, education, transport, healthcare, housing, entertainment.
How can settlements be made sustainable?
Renewable energy, public transport, recycling, green buildings, local food production.
