1.2+-+Settlement

**__From the syllabus__**
Candidates should be able to:


 * Describe the patterns of rural settlements – dispersed, linear, nucleated.
 * Explain how physical factors (relief, soil, water supply) and other factors such as accessibility, agricultural land-use, influence the sites and patterns of rural settlements.
 * Describe and explain the factors which may influence the size, growth and functions of rural and urban settlements.
 * Describe and suggest reasons for the hierarchy of settlements and services.
 * Describe and explain the land-use zones of towns and cities to include the Central Business District (CBD), residential areas, industrial areas, the provision of open spaces and transport routes. Differences in the patterns of urban structures in cities of LEDCs and MEDCs should be identified.
 * Describe problems associated with the growth of urban areas such as congestion in the CBD, housing shortages, traffic congestion, squatter settlements. Suggested solutions to overcome these problems should be illustrated by reference to selected examples.
 * Describe the effects of urbanisation on the environment – pollution (air, water, visual and noise), the results of urban sprawl on surrounding areas, the growth of out-of-town urban activities – shopping areas, sports facilities etc.

**__Key term list__**

 * LEDC -** Less Economically Developed Country e.g. Ethiopia
 * CBD -** Central Business District (of a town or city)
 * SITE** - The actual place where a settlement is located
 * SUBURB -** The outer residential area of a town/city
 * LAND USE ZONE -** An area of similar land-use (e.g. residential; industrial; commercial)
 * COMMUTING -** Process by which people living in one place travel to work in another
 * SETTLEMENT HIERARCHY -** The ordering of settlements according to their size and importance
 * URBAN REGENERATION -** Improving and modernising buildings in an inner city area that has declined (e.g. in the London Docklands)
 * SITUATION -** The place a settlement is in relation to other towns, routeways, rivers etc.
 * FUNCTION -** This is the purpose or key activity in a settlement
 * INNER CITY -** The area that grew up in the 19th century with industrialisation (also known as the Twilight zone)
 * RESIDENTIAL -** Land used mainly for housing
 * GREENFIELD SITE -** An area of land that has not been built on before
 * RURAL-URBAN FRINGE -** The boundary between a built up area and the countryside around it
 * SHANTY TOWN -** An area of poor quality housing, lacking in amenities e.g. water supply, electricity etc.
 * URBANISATION -** The increase in proportion of people living in towns and cities
 * COUNTERURBANISATION -** The movement of people away from large cities to smaller settlements
 * BROWNFIELD SITE -** Disused and derelict land which will then be redevelopment and re-built on.
 * GREEN BELT -** An area of land around a large urban area where the development of housing is restricted and the land protected
 * SUBURBANISATION -** Growth of the suburbs at the edge of a city
 * GENTRIFICATION** - Improving the quality / appearance of a property and the economic and social well being of an area to attract wealthier people to the area
 * URBAN REGENERATION -** The improvement and modernisation of buildings in an inner city area that had declined (e.g. London Docklands
 * URBAN REDEVELOPMENT -** The demolition and rebuilding of an area in decline – e.g. 1960s building of tower blocks.
 * SPHERE OF INFLUENCE -** The area served by a particular settlement
 * THRESHOLD POPULATION** - The minimum number of people needed to support a service so it can stay open
 * LOW ORDER GOODS OR SERVICES -** Usually low cost good which are needed often (e.g. milk and newspapers)
 * HIGH ORDER GOODS** **OR SERVICES** **-** High cost goods bought now and again (e.g. furniture and TVs)
 * RANGE OF A GOOD** **OR SERVICE** **-** Maximum distance people are prepared to travel to obtain a good / use a service

Case studies

 * Osaka-Kobe (dealing with massive growth in limited space) (textbook p. 70)
 * New York City (example of urban decay and renewal) (textbook p. 50)
 * Slum/Favela life in Rio di Janerio, Brazil (textbook p. 86)

Urban Issues - student summaries: