RURAL AND URBAN SETTLEMENT
STUDY OF SETTLEMENT
concept of settlement
Settlement - a group of people, with buildings and communication links that function together
as a single, connected system.
- always changing and developing (dynamic).
site and situation
Site - actual piece of land on which the settlement is built.
Factors influencing site:
- availability of building materials.
- availability of water (wet- and dry-point settlements).
- drainage & mass wasting.
- fuel for cooking and warmth.
- soil fertility.
- flat land.
Wet-point settlement - an area where water is scarce and people live close to water supply.
- oasis in desert
Dry-point settlement - an area of abundant water supply.
Situation - the position of the settlement in relation to the surrounding environment.
- how far is the settlement from the closest town/road?
Factors affecting site and situation of a settlement:
- recreation and leisure.
- employment.
- mineral resources.
- good farming land.
- nearby centres.
- rivers.
Site/Situation depends on function of settlement.
Function: main purpose of the settlement.
rural and urban settlements
Economic activities - activities that involve the production, distribution and consumption of
goods.
Rural settlements
- most inhabitants involved in primary economic activities.
Primary - activities that involve extracting raw materials from the natural environment.
- fishing, forestry, farming, mining.
Urban settlement
- most inhabitants involved in secondary, tertiary or quaternary economic activities.
Secondary - activities involving processing/manufacturing of primary materials into products
required by consumer.
Tertiary - activities concerning distribution of commodities to consumer.
- transport, baking, trade, commerce, retail.
Quaternary - services and all aspects of information of information processing and
technology.
- research, development, specialised services.
- provide a higher level of services through information and expert knowledge.
Population size, economic activities and services and land-use patterns help to differentiate
between rural and urban settlements.
Metropolises - major cities
Nucleated settlement - buildings are grouped together.
,Dispersed settlement - buildings are far apart.
Rural Settlements Urban Settlements
Population Size fewer inhabitants. more inhabitants.
smaller settlements. small towns (3000).
isolated farmsteads. larger towns (130 000).
army outposts. cities (over 750 000).
indigenous settlements. metropolises (over 3.5 million).
small villages.
Economic Activities primary. secondary - quaternary.
Services limited. wide range.
sanitation. water and electricity.
water and electricity. sanitation.
mobile clinics. hospitals.
fewer schools. education.
shops.
public transport.
Land-use Patterns widely spaced. dense.
open land between villages. people live close together.
dispersed or nucleated. always nucleated.
settlement classification - size, complexity, pattern and function
Settlement classification:
- function (types of jobs/activities).
- size (number of people).
- pattern (roads and buildings).
- complexity (infrastructure).
Infrastructure - road, rail, air links, power supply, sewage, telephone links, basic services.
Multifunctional - many different functions, uses or purposes.
Unifunctional - one function, use or purpose.
RURAL URBAN
Function primary activities. secondary - quaternary activities.
unifunctional. multifunctional.
Size one family to several hundreds of people. thousands to millions of people.
Pattern isolated (dispersed). nucleated.
nucleated.
Complexity limited infrastructure. complex infrastructure.
basic services available. full range of services available.
, RURAL SETTLEMENT
affect of site and situation on location of rural settlements
Rural areas - characterised by land-use focused on primary economic activities.
Factors influencing site depend on environment and activity taking place.
Situation is responsible for whether a settlement remains small or grows into a larger city.
Site and situation factors influencing location of rural settlements:
- site: arable land; fuel for warming and cooking; grazing or pasturage; drinking water;
wet-point or dry-point settlement; aspect; flat land; shelter - building materials.
- situation: access to transport routes; close to rivers, lakes, coasts; defence;
closeness to nearest town; distance from harbour; close to forests, quarries, mines,
national parks; access to communication links.
classification of rural settlements - pattern and function
Rural areas are dispersed (isolated) or nucleated (clustered).
Factors influencing pattern:
- physical conditions (shape of land).
- economic factors (type of activity taking place).
- social factors (landownership and social customs).
NUCLEATED SETTLEMENTS DISPERSED SETTLEMENTS
clustered buildings. scattered buildings over large area.
around a central point, along a road or an intersection common pattern in KZN and commercial farms.
(cross-shaped or T-shaped). lack of water - people spread out to find supply.
wet-point settlements built near water source. fertile soil over a large area - people disperse.
dry-point settlements built away from water source on dispersion in times of peace.
higher land. modern communication allows living far away.
easier to protect clustered buildings in an attack. flat land - people disperse.
mountainous topography - settlements in valleys. concerns about safety and security.
settlement in gaps where transport routes converge.
form at location of local resource (mines).
land tenure systems where communal land
ownership occurs.
farmers share resources and work together.
safety and security.
reasons for different shapes of settlements
Nucleated rural settlements have different shapes.
Classified according to arrangement of buildings and roads in relation to physical landscape.
Round (circular):
- of more European origin (centred around church/village).
- roads radiate out from centre.
- in SA, kraal is placed in centre to protect cattle.
Linear:
- built along roads, rivers or railway lines.
- long, narrow settlements.
T-Shaped:
- occur at intersection of two roads forming a T-junction.
Crossroads (star-shaped)
- occur at junction of many intersecting roads.
- provide services and facilities to travellers passing through.
- developed as a result of trade.
STUDY OF SETTLEMENT
concept of settlement
Settlement - a group of people, with buildings and communication links that function together
as a single, connected system.
- always changing and developing (dynamic).
site and situation
Site - actual piece of land on which the settlement is built.
Factors influencing site:
- availability of building materials.
- availability of water (wet- and dry-point settlements).
- drainage & mass wasting.
- fuel for cooking and warmth.
- soil fertility.
- flat land.
Wet-point settlement - an area where water is scarce and people live close to water supply.
- oasis in desert
Dry-point settlement - an area of abundant water supply.
Situation - the position of the settlement in relation to the surrounding environment.
- how far is the settlement from the closest town/road?
Factors affecting site and situation of a settlement:
- recreation and leisure.
- employment.
- mineral resources.
- good farming land.
- nearby centres.
- rivers.
Site/Situation depends on function of settlement.
Function: main purpose of the settlement.
rural and urban settlements
Economic activities - activities that involve the production, distribution and consumption of
goods.
Rural settlements
- most inhabitants involved in primary economic activities.
Primary - activities that involve extracting raw materials from the natural environment.
- fishing, forestry, farming, mining.
Urban settlement
- most inhabitants involved in secondary, tertiary or quaternary economic activities.
Secondary - activities involving processing/manufacturing of primary materials into products
required by consumer.
Tertiary - activities concerning distribution of commodities to consumer.
- transport, baking, trade, commerce, retail.
Quaternary - services and all aspects of information of information processing and
technology.
- research, development, specialised services.
- provide a higher level of services through information and expert knowledge.
Population size, economic activities and services and land-use patterns help to differentiate
between rural and urban settlements.
Metropolises - major cities
Nucleated settlement - buildings are grouped together.
,Dispersed settlement - buildings are far apart.
Rural Settlements Urban Settlements
Population Size fewer inhabitants. more inhabitants.
smaller settlements. small towns (3000).
isolated farmsteads. larger towns (130 000).
army outposts. cities (over 750 000).
indigenous settlements. metropolises (over 3.5 million).
small villages.
Economic Activities primary. secondary - quaternary.
Services limited. wide range.
sanitation. water and electricity.
water and electricity. sanitation.
mobile clinics. hospitals.
fewer schools. education.
shops.
public transport.
Land-use Patterns widely spaced. dense.
open land between villages. people live close together.
dispersed or nucleated. always nucleated.
settlement classification - size, complexity, pattern and function
Settlement classification:
- function (types of jobs/activities).
- size (number of people).
- pattern (roads and buildings).
- complexity (infrastructure).
Infrastructure - road, rail, air links, power supply, sewage, telephone links, basic services.
Multifunctional - many different functions, uses or purposes.
Unifunctional - one function, use or purpose.
RURAL URBAN
Function primary activities. secondary - quaternary activities.
unifunctional. multifunctional.
Size one family to several hundreds of people. thousands to millions of people.
Pattern isolated (dispersed). nucleated.
nucleated.
Complexity limited infrastructure. complex infrastructure.
basic services available. full range of services available.
, RURAL SETTLEMENT
affect of site and situation on location of rural settlements
Rural areas - characterised by land-use focused on primary economic activities.
Factors influencing site depend on environment and activity taking place.
Situation is responsible for whether a settlement remains small or grows into a larger city.
Site and situation factors influencing location of rural settlements:
- site: arable land; fuel for warming and cooking; grazing or pasturage; drinking water;
wet-point or dry-point settlement; aspect; flat land; shelter - building materials.
- situation: access to transport routes; close to rivers, lakes, coasts; defence;
closeness to nearest town; distance from harbour; close to forests, quarries, mines,
national parks; access to communication links.
classification of rural settlements - pattern and function
Rural areas are dispersed (isolated) or nucleated (clustered).
Factors influencing pattern:
- physical conditions (shape of land).
- economic factors (type of activity taking place).
- social factors (landownership and social customs).
NUCLEATED SETTLEMENTS DISPERSED SETTLEMENTS
clustered buildings. scattered buildings over large area.
around a central point, along a road or an intersection common pattern in KZN and commercial farms.
(cross-shaped or T-shaped). lack of water - people spread out to find supply.
wet-point settlements built near water source. fertile soil over a large area - people disperse.
dry-point settlements built away from water source on dispersion in times of peace.
higher land. modern communication allows living far away.
easier to protect clustered buildings in an attack. flat land - people disperse.
mountainous topography - settlements in valleys. concerns about safety and security.
settlement in gaps where transport routes converge.
form at location of local resource (mines).
land tenure systems where communal land
ownership occurs.
farmers share resources and work together.
safety and security.
reasons for different shapes of settlements
Nucleated rural settlements have different shapes.
Classified according to arrangement of buildings and roads in relation to physical landscape.
Round (circular):
- of more European origin (centred around church/village).
- roads radiate out from centre.
- in SA, kraal is placed in centre to protect cattle.
Linear:
- built along roads, rivers or railway lines.
- long, narrow settlements.
T-Shaped:
- occur at intersection of two roads forming a T-junction.
Crossroads (star-shaped)
- occur at junction of many intersecting roads.
- provide services and facilities to travellers passing through.
- developed as a result of trade.
