NationStates Jolt Archive

What is a settlement hierarchy?

Settlements vary in size and shape, as well as the number of functions each provides. The hierarchy diagram below shows how the settlement size relates to the amount of the settlement. There are more smaller settlements than larger ones. The larger the settlement, the higher up the hierarchy it is due to the fact that it has more functions and services and is therefore considered more important.

http://www.kesgrave.suffolk.sch.uk/learningzone/subjects/geography/Images/hierarchy.gif

A shows that the higher up the hierarchy:

the larger the size of the settlement
the less of that type of settlements there are
the area each individual settlement covers increases
the range and number of functions / services increases


B shows that the lower down the hierarchy:

the smaller the size of the settlement
the more of that type of settlements there are
the area each individual settlement covers decreases
the range and number of functions / services decreases


Where do you live?

Where do you live?

Planet Earth. What manner of being are you?

Planet Earth. What manner of being are you?

::slap::

Heh - you knew what I meant! ;)

Lovely, this is on the GCSE syllabus, the test of which Im taking in less than a month. In any case, I'm not telling you any more other than that I live in a large town with market properties

Ahhh - but does it have the services necessary to qualify as a Large Town, with a Sphere of Influence sufficient enough to withstand a population threshold?

Heh - I did GCSE Geography - it's a great subject! I'm doing it at A-Level now. Definately recommend it.

Yes, it does have most of the high-order services required to maintain a sphere of influence capable of providing the population threshold. It is also a route focus, the Great North Road (A1) used to pass through the town, but now just bypasses it, causing the 'sphere' to elongate north and south, and the A52 and the A607 cause it to extend a few miles east and west. Also, the GNER mainline passes directly through the town, and provides an excellent stopoff point, being almost halfway between York and London

Not sure, I live in the state capital, but not the national capital. What exactly is a conurbation city?

... What exactly is a conurbation city?

I believe that conurbation is a sin.

*snip*

If you want intelligent answers:

1. Define the terms in your poll

2. Explain what the heck you are talking about

No guarantees. But right now you are SOL.

A conurbation is an urban area comprising a number of cities or towns whose built-up zones of influence have merged physically through population growth and expansion to form one contiguous urban cluster.

One famous example is the BosWash conurbation consisting of New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia.

I believe that conurbation is a sin.

Used to be.

But the new Pope is a big conurbator.

A conurbation is an urban area comprising a number of cities or towns whose built-up zones of influence have merged physically through population growth and expansion to form one contiguous urban cluster.

One famous example is the BosWash conurbation consisting of New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia.

In that case, I would say I where I live will probably be a conurbation in 10 or 15 years, but is currently a city. I don't think it's a primate city, because it isn't the largest. Although, it does have all the same services, etc as the largest.

Somebody needs to define "Primate city" before I start making "Planet of the Apes" references.

Somebody needs to define "Primate city" before I start making "Planet of the Apes" references.

Heh, I hadn't thought of that. :)

Definitions:

Capital City: The city where the Government of a country is located. A capital city is the political centre of a country, where important decisions which affect the entire population are taken.

Conurbation: An urban area comprising a number of cities or towns whose built-up zones of influence have merged physically through population growth and expansion to form one contiguous urban cluster.

City: An urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, and legal status. In most parts of the world cities are generally substantial and nearly always have an urban core, with a mixture of residential, industrial and commercial aspects. In England and Wales, the status of a city is reserved for places that have a Royal Charter entitling them to the name, traditionally associated with the possession of a cathedral.

Large Town: An urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. As with cities, there is no standard universal definition of a town: the criterion in use in any country is likely to arise from national law, custom or administrative convenience. Most of a town's population will tend to derive its living from industry, commerce and public service rather than agriculture or related activities.

Small Town: Small towns, or Market towns, often grew up close to fortified places, such as castles, in order to enjoy their protection. They tended to be located where transport was easiest: for example, at a crossroads or close to a river ford. The most obvious feature of the traditional market town is a very wide main street or market place, with room for stalls and booths to be set up on market days.

Village: A rural settlement, with the main function being residential. It has a limited number of low-order services, sch as a churbe, public house, post office and general shop.

Hamlet: A cluster of a few house and farms without any services.

Isolated Buildings: A rural environment at the bottom of the Settlement Hierarchy, typically have no neighbours in close proximity and have no services whatsoever.

The state government is located where I live, but not the national gov, therefore: City.

Definitions:



Small Town: Small towns, or Market towns, often grew up close to fortified places, such as castles, in order to enjoy their protection. They tended to be located where transport was easiest: for example, at a crossroads or close to a river ford. The most obvious feature of the traditional market town is a very wide main street or market place, with room for stalls and booths to be set up on market days.



This is largely correct, except a market town, such as the one I live in, can also be a large town, with many high-order goods and services in comparison to surrounding towns, which do not have the same range of services

A town, with a large number of services and high population, is a Large Town - even if it was originally a market town. Large towns can still have markets.

Market towns are those that retain their market features but have limited services.

A curious example of crossovers would be Ripon, in North Yorkshire.

Ripon is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, 214 miles NNW from London. Although it has a population of only 15,000 people and very poor services - no university, no museums, etc - it is still regarded as a City because of the Cathedral.