Site and Situation

Objectives

• To learn about the factors which influence the site and growth of cities.

• To learn about Central Place Theory and problems found in urban settlements.

Factors• Location near key resources• Location along transportation and trade routes

– Trade routes have always been vital to humans as resources are not distributed evenly (i.e. London, England)

• Location at easily defended sites – protects cities from invasion

• Location near freshwater (i.e. rivers)• Location near important mineral resources (i.e.

gold mines, oil)

Once cities are established, continued access to other cities and resources allow them to grow

Urban Hierarchy

• Hierarchy of Urban Places Mega

Cities

Cities

Towns

Villages

Metropolis*

Suburbs

Central Place TheoryIn the 1930’s, geographer Walter Christaller developed a theory to explain patterns in the size and location of cities.

Central place theory illustrates different sized cities serving different functions in the shape of a hexagon.

At the center is the largest city having the most goods/services.

Surrounding would be smaller towns offering fewer goods/ services.

Central Place Theory

• A Central Place is a settlement which provides one or more services for the population living around it.

• Settlements which provide fewer services are said to be low order settlements.

• Settlements that provide more varied services are said to be high order settlements.

Central Place Theory

• This theory helps explain the following:– that there are fewer large cities than small

ones.– Large cities are generally farther apart– People usually find specialized goods in large

cities– People in small towns often travel farther to

find goods that they need less often.• This theory helps us understand how cities of

different sizes are arranged and connected.

Central Place Theory

While the hexagonal shape is ideal for explanation, a more realistic shape might be like the one on the left…

Environmental factors such as mountains and rivers will affect settlement location as well as cultural factors such as trade routes and political boundaries.

geographictravels.com

Local Example of Central Place Theory

itcwebdesigns.comBig Centres (Higher Order)

Smaller Centres (Lower Order)

Urban Land Use• Most city centers are

dominated by a CBD Central Business District (large stores, offices and buildings mixed with varied residences)

• As you leave the city center, there are factories and warehouses

• Further away is newer housing (Suburbia!)

Suburbs

Factories

CBD

von Thunen’s Model

Urban Land UseMuch like Christaller’s Hexagon (Central Place Theory), von Thunen’s model of land use is not always shaped as a circle.

Where are the major shopping centres located?

How does the age of housing change as you travel away from the CBD?

How might the growth of suburbs affect agriculture?

Problems

• Key social problem in cities is poverty• Air, water and land pollution• Concentrations of homes, people and industries

in small areas make problems worse• Conditions vary depending on a country’s status

– poor countries do not have adequate sewer systems, etc.