Von Thunen Model

For some reason really

important to the AP Folks
 THINK
Where do you see the big,
money making businesses?
Where do you see the discount
stores, warehouses, car
dealerships, etc?
Where does agriculture exist?
WHY DO WE SEE THESE
PATTERNS? WHAT OR
 The Von Thnen Model
The Von Thnen model of agricultural land use
was created by farmer and amateur economist
J.H. Von Thnen of Germany. He believed
farmers were economic men.

His model was created before industrialization

and is based on 6 limiting assumptions
 The Model
Von Thunen observed some patterns
in where agriculture is grown and
where people live.

This model explains the development

of agricultural towns and cities.
Von Thunens
assumptions
1. The city is located centrally within
an "Isolated State" which is self
sufficient and has no external
influences.
2. The Isolated State is surrounded by an
unoccupied wilderness.

3. The land of the State is completely flat

and has no rivers or mountains to interrupt
the terrain.
 4. The soil quality and climate are
consistent throughout the State.

5. Farmers in the Isolated State

transport their own goods to market via
oxcart, across land, directly to the
central city. Therefore, there are no
roads.
6. Farmers act to maximize profits.
City/Town/Village:

At the heart of the

model is the city,
where the people live
and work.
 Horticulture and
Dairying:

Dairy farming is done

close enough to
transport milk to
market without
spoiling.
Dairying andThis area is
intensive
calledoccur
farming the milkshed.
in the ring
closest to the city. Since
vegetables, fruit, milk and
other dairy products must
get to market quickly, they
would be produced close
to the city (remember, we
 Forest resources
(Timber and
firewood) would be
produced for fuel
and building
materials in the
second zone.

Before industrialization
(and coal power), wood
(forest) was a very
important fuel for
heating and cooking.
Wood is very heavy and
difficult to transport so
 Crop
Rotation/Past
ures

Grain
production

Since grains last longer

than dairy products
and are much lighter
than fuel, reducing
transport costs, they
can be located further
 Extensive
Ranching
and Grazing

Animals can be
raised far from the
city because they
are self-
transporting.
Animals can walk to
the central city for
sale or for
 As one gets closer to a city, the price of land
increases. (called the Bid-Rent Theory)
The farmers of the Isolated State balance the costs of
transportation, land, and profit and produce the
most cost-effective product for market.
Some products spoiled more quickly, needed more
sensitive transportation or generate higher prices
at market, these products mean the farmer can
afford higher land rent.
How has it changed?
Improved transportation
refrigerated trucks/food
preservatives
Farm subsidies, govt control on
crops
Foreign markets: international
movement of goods, increased
competition
Do forests still need to be close to
the market?
 In the real world, things don't happen
exactly as they would in a model, but do
we see some similarities?

applying von Thunens von Thunens model with

basic assumptions to the US
Variations in climate factored
in--the north is colder than the
South.
 ..
Von Thunen Model
Assumptions:
- The city is located centrally within
an "Isolated State" which is self
sufficient and has no external
influences.
- The Isolated State is surrounded by
an unoccupied wilderness.
- The land of the State is completely
flat and has no rivers or mountains
to interrupt the terrain.
- The soil quality and climate are
consistent throughout the State.
- Farmers in the Isolated State
transport their own goods to market
via oxcart, across land, directly to
the central city. Therefore, there are
no roads.
- Farmers act to maximize profits.