Kayla Michelle Humphries
URBAN
SETTLEMENTS
Large settlement with large population involved in secondary, tertiary & quaternary
activities = multifunctional.
A. Origin & development of urban settlements - urbanisation
Urbanisation = Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.
1. Rural with primary eco. activity as core function.
2. Surplus primary products produced = processing & trading.
3. Villages started to grow, productive villages attracted people = expanded.
4. Now classified as multifunctional towns/cities.
B. How site & situation affect location
Location influenced by factors that influence site and situation.
Consider physical factors, trade & transport, economic/political factors etc.
C. Classification according to function
Classified according to main function.
Most = multifunctional, some functions can dominate others.
Either related to secondary, tertiary or quaternary activities.
Function usually indicates REASON for establishing area, reason can change.
Categories of urban settlements:
Central places (market/service centres):
Easily accessible
Provides g/s to surrounding population
Range in size from small urban centres to large metropolises.
Trade & Transport town:
, Kayla Michelle Humphries
o Break of bulk point
Where one mode of transport changed for another
Volume of goods reduced
E.g. moved from ship to truck
o Junction
Develop along transport routes
Over time other functions arise to serve settlements
o Gap/Gateway
Develop at physical gap/pass in landscape or at gateway
entrance point
Specialised:
One dominant function
Function carried out with other central place functions
E.g. Potchefstroom University = educational
URBAN
HIERARCHIES
A. Concept of urban hierarchy
System used to rank urban settlements according to their size (physical &
population) and their function.
B. The central place theory
URBAN
SETTLEMENTS
Large settlement with large population involved in secondary, tertiary & quaternary
activities = multifunctional.
A. Origin & development of urban settlements - urbanisation
Urbanisation = Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.
1. Rural with primary eco. activity as core function.
2. Surplus primary products produced = processing & trading.
3. Villages started to grow, productive villages attracted people = expanded.
4. Now classified as multifunctional towns/cities.
B. How site & situation affect location
Location influenced by factors that influence site and situation.
Consider physical factors, trade & transport, economic/political factors etc.
C. Classification according to function
Classified according to main function.
Most = multifunctional, some functions can dominate others.
Either related to secondary, tertiary or quaternary activities.
Function usually indicates REASON for establishing area, reason can change.
Categories of urban settlements:
Central places (market/service centres):
Easily accessible
Provides g/s to surrounding population
Range in size from small urban centres to large metropolises.
Trade & Transport town:
, Kayla Michelle Humphries
o Break of bulk point
Where one mode of transport changed for another
Volume of goods reduced
E.g. moved from ship to truck
o Junction
Develop along transport routes
Over time other functions arise to serve settlements
o Gap/Gateway
Develop at physical gap/pass in landscape or at gateway
entrance point
Specialised:
One dominant function
Function carried out with other central place functions
E.g. Potchefstroom University = educational
URBAN
HIERARCHIES
A. Concept of urban hierarchy
System used to rank urban settlements according to their size (physical &
population) and their function.
B. The central place theory
