Types and Patterns of Settlements

Settlement Types

• A settlement is a place where people live, categorized as either urban or rural.
• Rural settlements are located in the countryside, including villages and small towns.
• Urban settlements are towns or cities with better transport links, services, and entertainment facilities due to higher population density.

Settlement Patterns

• Dispersed/scattered settlement: Isolated houses spread over a large area, often in agricultural, rural, or hilly regions.
• Linear settlement: Buildings in a line along a roadway, rivers, or coastlines.
• Nucleated settlement: Buildings clustered together, typically at the intersection of roads or on flat/gentle sloping land.

Why People Live in Settlements

• Employment: Small settlements offer limited jobs, mostly in agriculture, while larger settlements offer a wider variety of jobs. People often move from rural to urban areas to find better employment opportunities.
• Public services: Public services like schools, hospitals, post offices, and police stations are expensive to provide in small settlements and are often unavailable. Therefore, people gravitate to larger settlements with better access to comprehensive public services.
• Infrastructure: Large settlements usually have better infrastructure, including roads, water supply, electricity, telephone services, and ports, making them more attractive to live in.
• Recreational facilities: Larger settlements often have more recreational facilities such as sports fields, cinemas, restaurants, and clubs.

Population

• Population refers to the total number of people residing in a specific area.
• Human Geography: is the branch of geography that studies population.
• Demography: is the study of human populations.
• Census: is a method of collecting data on population in a region.
• Statistical Institute of Jamaica: The government agency responsible for conducting the census in Jamaica.
• The census is conducted every 10 years.
• Government planners use population data to prepare for future needs, like infrastructure development (schools, hospitals, and roads.)
• Studying population helps identify and train skilled human resources for a country's growth.

Population Distribution

• Population distribution refers to how people are spread out across a region.
• Population distribution is uneven globally, regionally, and nationally, and it changes over time.

Population Density

• Population density is the number of people in a specific area.
• Density is calculated by dividing the total population by the area.
• Population density varies across different locations reflecting diverse geographical factors like terrain, resources, and economic activities.

Factors Influencing Population Distribution

• Relief: Lowlands are more attractive for settlement due to easier road and building construction (e.g., Kingston City). Conversely, steep slopes and mountains are more challenging for settlements.
• Drainage: Poorly drained areas like swamps and marshes often have sparse populations due to difficulties with building foundations and spread of diseases (e.g. swampy lowlands of Portmore).
• Industry: Industries attract people seeking job opportunities, higher earnings, and higher standards of living, thus leading to high population density in areas with significant industries. (e.g., Kingston and Spanish Town - high population, due to industries).

Explore the different types and patterns of settlements, including urban and rural classifications. Understand the reasons people choose to live in specific areas and how these settlements are structured. This quiz will test your knowledge on scattered, linear, and nucleated settlements.