Factors for Site, Growth & Function of Settlements (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Factors For Site, Growth & Function of Settlements

Factors influencing site and situation

• The land that the town is built on is called the site

• Situation can be thought of as where the town is in relation to other things, like a forest, a lake, or something else

• Before building on a spot or choosing a situation, there are factors to consider

  • What is the availability of water for transport, drinking, irrigation, washing, etc.? But it is not suitable to build next to the river in case of flooding

  • Farming on a floodplain is good because the land is rich in alluvium deposits

  • Building on level ground is easier but harder to defend 

  • Accessibility can be a problem, particularly if the relief is too steep, as transport and commerce can be affected, especially if they are near to ports, bridges or weirs

  • It's important to think about the proximity to other places, especially for work or getting goods

  • What is the aspect? In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes are warmer and sunnier than north-facing slopes, making them better for growing crops

• A wet point site is when there is a reliable supply of water from a well or spring 

• A dry point site is when the site is raised above natural, poorly drained land

• A spring-line settlement develops as it follows the path of available springs or wells, particularly at the foot of chalk and limestone hills

Growth of settlements

• Factors that affect the growth include:

  • Climate: too extreme and settlements remain small

  • Raw materials: multiplier effect, more investment means more opportunities, which attracts people to the area, therefore, there is growth within the settlement

  • Fertile land allows for excess to be sold and non-farming services can be supported, allowing for the natural growth of a settlement

  • Location: central to other places, access for trade, etc 

  • Historical: the seat of government, universities, etc. 

Function of settlements

• The function of settlements change over time 

• There are a lot of settlements that start with just one purpose and add more as they grow or have to change. For example:

  • Liverpool in the UK used to be a major trade port, but that role started to fade in the 1970s when containers came along and the Mersey became too weak for big ships to dock

  • Liverpool's economy has become based on tourism, which has grown thanks to The Beatles and the Merseybeat era

  • Liverpool beat other British cities like Newcastle and Birmingham to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008

  • In 2004, the city's waterfront was named a World Heritage Site. However, that designation was taken away in 2021 because the site's redevelopment didn't keep it true to its marine roots

• Other functions include:

  • Political

  • Dormitory

  • Agricultural

  • Tourism

  • Mining

  • Port

  • Market town

  • Fishing

  • Residential

  • Industrial