Land Use Theory

Johann Heinrich vonThunen  German economist and landowner  Studied the spatial patterns of agricultural activities around Rostock, Germany and created a spatial distribution model  Known as the first spatial analyses of economic activity  As with any model many major assumptions had to be made

Major Assumptions  The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State."  The Isolated State is surrounded by wilderness.  The land is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains.  Soil quality and climate are consistent.  Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. There are no roads.  Farmers behave rationally to maximize profits.

Von Thunen’s Model Central City/Urban Area Market Gardening & Dairy Forest Extensive Field Crops/Grains Ranching, Livestock Wilderness/Unprofitable Distance for Farming

Von Thunen’s 1 st and 2 nd Rings  Land closest to the city is most valuable Thus the most intense farming and most difficult to transport i.e. dairy, fruits, vegetables  2 nd ring provides wood for fuel and building Close to the city because it is hard to transport and in high demand

Von Thunen’s 3 rd and 4 th Rings  3 rd Ring: As you move away from the city land is less valuable and transport is more costly Field crops and grains are light weight, easy to transport, need more land  4 th Ring: Ranching and livestock are furthest away because they provide their own transport and need the most land to develop  Outside the 4 th ring is wilderness: Agriculture is unprofitable at this distance

Modified version #1 Isolated State Modified Conditions Livestock farming Three-field system Crop framing, fallow and pasture Crop farming without fallow Firewood and lumber production Market gardening and milk production Navigable river Central city Sub-center

Another Modification…

Criticism’s of the model…  It does not take any physical characteristics into account… Soil Fertility Access to water Elevation Weather  Technological innovations Refrigeration Lower transportation costs, RR, Airplanes etc…

Does this fit? Macro-Tunian

Major agricultural regions, are they based on economics (Thunian) or physical geography?