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Rural Settlement Pattern

Definition

A rural settlement pattern refers to the distribution or arrangement of homes, farms, villages, towns, and other elements in a rural environment. It's how people organize their living spaces in non-urban areas.

Analogy

Think of a rural settlement pattern like arranging furniture in your room. You can choose to spread everything out evenly (dispersed), cluster things together (nucleated), or even line them up along a certain path (linear). The way you arrange your furniture depends on various factors such as space available, convenience, and personal preference - just like how people decide on their rural settlement patterns.

Related terms

Dispersed Settlements: These are settlements where houses are spread out over a large area. This is common in areas where agriculture or livestock farming is the main source of income. It's like having all your furniture scattered around your room with lots of space between each piece.

Nucleated Settlements: These are settlements where houses are built close together around a central point such as a market or crossroads. This is often seen in places with limited arable land or for mutual protection. Imagine clustering all your furniture at the center of your room - that's nucleated!

Linear Settlements: These are settlements that develop along a line such as a road, river, or valley. This type of pattern often occurs due to transportation routes or geographical restrictions. Picture lining up all your furniture against one wall - this represents linear settlements!

"Rural Settlement Pattern" appears in:

Practice Questions (2)

  • Which of these is a common type of rural settlement pattern?
  • What is the term for a rural settlement pattern where homes and other buildings follow the contours of a road or river?


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.