Key Terminology & Function of a Settlement (Grade 12 NSC Matric Geography): Revision Notes
Key Terminology & Function of a Settlement
Introduction to settlement geography
Settlement geography is the study of where people live and the reasons why they choose to live in particular places. Understanding settlements involves looking at their functions, locations, and the various factors that influence their development and growth.
Settlement geography helps us understand human patterns on Earth's surface and explains why some places develop into major cities while others remain small villages.
What is a settlement?
A settlement is essentially a place where people live together on a regular basis. It consists of buildings where people work and live, communication networks that connect different areas, and various functions or activities that serve the community's needs. Settlements can range from small rural villages with just a few families to massive urban centres with millions of inhabitants.
Understanding settlement functions
The function of a settlement refers to the main economic activities or jobs that take place there. This is one of the most important ways geographers classify and study settlements because it tells us a lot about the people who live there and why the settlement exists in that particular location.
Settlement function is the primary way geographers classify settlements - it reveals both the economic base and the reason for the settlement's existence in that specific location.
Rural settlements - unifunctional
Rural settlements are typically described as unifunctional because they have one main type of economic activity. These settlements primarily focus on primary economic activities such as:
- Farming and agriculture
- Forestry and logging
- Mining operations
- Fishing communities
The reason rural areas are called unifunctional is that most people living there are involved in similar types of work, usually connected to using natural resources directly from the land or sea.
Rural Settlement Example: Agricultural Village
In a typical farming village:
- 80% of residents work in agriculture (crop farming, livestock)
- The local shop sells farming supplies and basic groceries
- The primary school serves farming families from surrounding areas
- All economic activity revolves around the agricultural calendar
Urban settlements - multifunctional
Urban settlements are classified as multifunctional because they offer many different types of economic activities all in one place. Urban areas typically include:
- Secondary activities: factories, manufacturing, construction
- Tertiary activities: shops, schools, hospitals, banks, restaurants, entertainment
This variety of functions means that people living in urban areas can find many different types of jobs and services without having to travel far.
Urban Settlement Example: City Centre
In a typical city you might find:
- Manufacturing district with factories and warehouses
- Business district with offices and banks
- Retail areas with shops and restaurants
- Residential areas with diverse housing types
- Educational and medical facilities serving the wider region
Essential geographical concepts
Understanding settlements requires familiarity with several key geographical terms that help us analyse where settlements are located and how they function.
Site and situation
Site refers to the actual piece of land where a settlement is built. This includes the physical characteristics of the land such as whether it's flat or hilly, near water, or on high ground.
Situation describes the settlement's location in relation to its surrounding environment and other places. This includes how well connected it is to other settlements, transport routes, and resources.
Memory Aid for Site vs Situation:
Site is the spot itself, while situation is about the surroundings.
Think: Site = Spot, Situation = Surroundings
Population and service concepts
Threshold population is the minimum number of people needed to support a particular service or business in a settlement. For example, a small village shop might need at least 500 people living nearby to stay profitable, while a large shopping centre might need 50,000 people.
Range refers to the maximum distance people are willing to travel to use a service or visit a settlement. People might travel 2km to a local shop but 50km to a specialised hospital.
Sphere of influence is the total area that a settlement serves. This is closely related to range - it's the area from which people regularly travel to the settlement for goods and services.
Minimum service area is the smallest area needed to provide enough customers or resources to keep a settlement or service operating successfully.
Understanding the Relationship:
These concepts work together: Higher-order services (like hospitals) have higher threshold populations, greater ranges, and larger spheres of influence compared to lower-order services (like local shops).
Types of settlements by function
Understanding different types of settlements helps us see how function influences where settlements develop and why they grow or decline.
Central place settlements
These settlements provide services to the surrounding rural area. They act as local centres where rural people come to access shops, schools, medical services, and other facilities they cannot find in their own small villages.
Trade and transport settlements
These develop at important transportation points and include:
Junction settlements - located where major transport routes meet, such as where two main roads cross or where railway lines intersect.
Break-of-bulk settlements - found where goods must be transferred from one type of transport to another, such as where rivers meet the sea and goods move between boats and trucks.
Gap settlements - situated at natural crossing points through physical barriers like mountain passes or river crossings.
Transport Settlement Example: Break-of-bulk Point
Port Settlement Development:
- Natural harbour provides sheltered water for ships
- River connection allows goods to move inland by barge
- Railway built to connect port to major cities
- Settlement grows as people move there for dock work, transport jobs
- Services develop to support the growing population
Specialised settlements
These focus on one particular economic activity or function, such as:
- Mining towns built around mineral extraction
- Tourist resorts focused on recreation and hospitality
- Military bases serving defence purposes
- University towns centred around education
Dormitory settlements
These are primarily residential areas where people sleep but work elsewhere, usually in nearby larger cities. They're sometimes called "bedroom communities" because residents commute to other places for employment.
Settlement patterns
How buildings are arranged in a settlement also tells us about its function and development:
Dispersed pattern - buildings are spread far apart from each other, common in farming areas where each family needs space for crops and livestock.
Nucleated pattern - buildings are clustered close together, typical in villages and towns where people need to share services and facilities.
Pattern and Function Connection:
Settlement patterns directly reflect economic needs: Dispersed patterns suit farming (need space for fields), while nucleated patterns suit service functions (need to share facilities and reduce travel distances).
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Function determines whether a settlement is classified as rural (unifunctional) or urban (multifunctional)
- Site vs situation: Site is the actual land spot; situation is the relationship to surrounding areas
- Threshold population and range work together - larger services need more people and people will travel further for specialised services
- Settlement patterns (dispersed vs nucleated) reflect the main economic activities and social needs of residents
- Understanding these key terms helps explain why settlements develop where they do and how they serve their communities