Urban Site & Function
What is a settlement?
- A settlement is a place where people live and carry out a range of activities, including trade and manufacturing
- Settlements have different types based on:
- Shape or form
- Population size
- Function
- Features
- Hierarchy
- Settlements range from isolated buildings in rural areas to urban megacities of over 10 million people
- The physical geography of an area impacts on the settlement pattern
What are urban settlements?
- The definition of an urban area varies:
- In the UK, the government defines settlements with a population of over 10 000 people
- In many places, urban settlements are those with more than 5 000 residents
Urban settlement characteristics
- Urban areas tend to:
- Have a high density of human structures, such as houses, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, and railways
- Be large and have a high population density
- Depend on water supply, relief, and soil fertility for their location and development
- Have diverse social and cultural activities, such as entertainment, education, and healthcare
- Be densely populated areas that have a high degree of economic, social and cultural diversity
- Be located near major transportation routes, such as roads, railways, ports and airports, to ensure trade and mobility
- Urban areas:
- Have a complex and hierarchical structure of land use, with different zones for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and administrative functions
- Are influenced by various factors, such as:
- Physical geography
- Climate
- History
- Politics
- Culture
- Globalisation
What is meant by settlement site and situation?
- The site is the physical land that the settlement is built on
- Natural conditions, historical development, planning regulations, market forces, and social preferences are just a few of the factors that have an impact on the site
- The situation can be thought of as the position of the settlement in relation to other features, e.g., a forest, a lake, etc.
What are settlement functions?
- The functions of settlements change over time
- The functions are the main activities which occur in a settlement
- Many settlements first start with only one function, then develop others as the settlement grows or is forced to change, for instance:
- Liverpool, in the UK, began as a major port of trade, but this function went into decline during the 1970s with the advent of containerisation, and the Mersey was too shallow to allow large ships into dock
- Tourism has become the major function of Liverpool's economy, focusing on The Beatles and the Merseybeat era
- In 2008, Liverpool became the European Capital of Culture, beating other British cities such as Newcastle and Birmingham
- The city's waterfront was designated a World Heritage Site in 2004.
- This status was revoked in 2021 because its redevelopment didn't maintain the site’s original authenticity.
- It lost the features which made it a maritime feature
Examples of Functions in Urban Settlements
Function | Example |
Political | Town halls, parliaments |
Commercial | Shops, markets |
Tourism | Museums and art galleries |
Transportation | Railways, roads, airports |
Educational | Schools, universities, and colleges |
Agriculture | Farming |
Examiner Tip
Students often confuse site and situation. Remember that the site is the physical location of a settlement whereas the situation is the settlement in relation to other features.