SETTLEMEN

TS

Places where people live and carry out their

everyday activity is known as settlement.

Two types of
settlement

Rural
settlement

Urban
settlement

Rural settlement

The majority of its inhabitants are involve in

activity like farming, fishing, forestry,
mining.

The pattern of rural settlement can vary

from a single farm to a cluster of houses.
(dispersed, linear and nucleated.)

Urban settlement
The majority of people are engage in non
rural activity.
They work in office, shops and factories,
operate machinery, provide health care or
other services.
urban settlement can be small like 1000
people or can be as large as TokyoYokohama in Japan with over 30million
people.

In the past most of the population lived in

rural areas.

Country such as Singapore, Japan, united

states of America, Australia, Germany, united
kingdom more than three quarter of
population were living in urban towns or
cities.
These are first world country.

In other countries such as India , China ,Egypt

, Nigeria, most people live in rural areas.
These are third world country.

Petronas tower ,Kuala

lumpur

Characteristic of Rural
settlement
In the form of village, surrounded by farms
With Small population.
Occupation such as forestry, farming ,fishing
mining, tourism.
Service provided are in limited range and mostly
for every day needs.
Close knit communities and the atmosphere is
quiet.
dominance of community feeling.

Characteristic of Urban
settlement
In the form of towns and cities.
They are large, both in population and area.
Has functions such as business,
manufacturing, government cultural center.
Wide range of services offered including
specialized service. Like Unlike rural settlement, neighborhood is
separate with limited knowledge of others.
Traffic and pollution problem.

Differences in Services between Rural and Urban Settlements

Services listed are those of the highest level likely to be provided

in the different settlements:

Service

Rural Settlements

Urban Settlements

Health

Medical clinic

Hospital

Education

Primary school

University

Shopping

General store, market Shopping mall

Finance

Moneylender, cooperative

International bank

Bus service

International airport

Transport

Changing settlement
Trade increases (farm products).It will attract the
entrepreneurs and workers. Hence settling the people from
every where.

New and better government policies such as rail and road link
it to the other centers. Which requires workers and establish
the settlement.

Mineral resource or hotels for tourist may change rural areas

into large urban center. Like Kuala lumpur.

Small rural settlement near large urban settlement may

become preferred places for people to live. It becomes outer
suburb of large settlement.

Settlement Pattern
Dispersed

Linear

Nucleated

Generally surrounded by huge farmland.

Suitable for growing crops and raising
livestock.
Houses are wide apart.

Settlement may follow the river or road,

canal or railways.
It is due to easy access to transport ,fresh
water or fishing .
Roads also attract the shops beside the
settlement.

Buildings are close around the central point.

The central point can be town square,
religious centre, road junction or a mine.
There are many reason for the development
of this pattern like water ,mine or a defence
site.
Maximum use of land in nucleated setting.
Close neighbours are good companion in
times of troubles.