S+-+Settlement+theory

Settlement Hierarchy

The settlement hierarchy shows you how our settlments can be classified. Conurbation is at the top of the hierarchy as it is the largest settlment with a higher population and has more services. Isolated dwellings are often just one building by itself and thus is the smallest type of settlement, has a very low population and has more services. As you more up the hierarchy there is a decrease in the number of settlement types. For example there are less large towns than small towns.

A service is something that provides a service for somebody e.g. shops and schools

The larger the settlement the more services there are in the settlement. This is because more people require more services like schools, hospitals and shops.

__**Function of a settlement**__ The function of a settlement describes what it does. In the past a settlement it may only have had one function, that of defence as at Chester. Over time it changed to residential, religious and defensive. Today Chester is multi-functional. Its function can be described as residential, religious, tourism, recreation, shopping, health and education.

Shape of settlements

Our settlments can be described as:


 * Linear - in a line
 * Nucleated - clustered around a central point (nodal point)
 * Dispersed - settlements randomly spread out