Settlement patterns

Settlement Patterns Definition:-Arrangement of where people live on the Earth and the factors that influence this arrangement -Canada’s varies enormously from cities to small farms…

Population Distribution -The pattern of where people live in a region or entire country. Two main areas: a)Dispersed (agricultural or tourism base) b)Concentrated (resources, economy in one area) -Linear (highway, waterways, fishing…) -More than 90% of Canadians live within 600km of the US border (10% of Canada’s area)

Two Categories of Settlement Rural –outside towns and cities (pop density , settlement pattern dispersed) Urban-within towns and cities (Pop density , settlement pattern concentrated)

3 Factors that affect the pattern of rural settlement Resource types (forestry, mining, agricultural) Transportation methods (water, railway, shipping…) Government’s role in settlement (Quebec, West prov.)

Urbanization Defn: The process by which an area changes from being rural to being urban. -80% population lives in cities and towns (82% in 1867 were rural) -Increase in population density and concentration along areas of manufacturing and services. -Changes in economy caused some urbanization (country and city) -Mechanization for agricultural based areas, and services and industry grew in urban areas

4 Urban Functions (“what the city does to make money”) -Activities that can affect the financial growth of a city a) Transportation (ex: Thunder Bay, Fort William exchange to west: canoes, railway, shipping) b) Service Centre (ex: Fredericton, Empire Loyalists (USA) settled and developed, now University of NB) c) Resource Based Community (ex: Port Alberni, lumber/paper mills, shipping port in Alberni Inlet) d) Manufacturing Centre (ex: Sarnia, Oil refinery, photochemical industry)

Urban Land Use Land Use Defn: How suburban, urban or rural land is and can be used (ex: parks, housing, industry, commercial, agriculture, etc..)   -80% Canadians work, live in cities -Six major land uses in cities are: a)Residential 40% b)Transportation 33% c) Commercial 5% d)Industrial 6% e) Institutional/Public Buildings 10% f)Open space/Recreational 7%

A) Residential -Where people live (single family to apartment) 40% of land in cities Residential Density – Defn: # housing units per km2 (#/ hectare) 2 factors effect this : 1)Cost of land Expensive –high density ( High rise apartments 100/ha) Cheap –homes low density (single to duplexes less than 30/ha) 2)Age of Neighborhood Pre-WW2 smaller lots, straighter roads (built for transit) Post WW2 larger lots, curvier roads (built for the car)

B) Transportation 33% of Urban land use 3 Parts of Urban Transportation: a)Vehicles Bicycles, mass transit vehicles, autos b)Travel Paths The “roads” vehicles travel (3 types) -Expressways (Largest capacity roads) ex: 417 -Arterial Roads (Major transport routes within the city) ex: Walkley -Local Roads (routes from homes to arterial routes) ex: Canterbury c)Terminal Facilities Parking lots, stations, docks, mass transit stations

C) Commercial 5% of urban land use (where $ exchanges hands) Small amount of land use, but crucial to the survival of the city includes goods and services of products 3 types of commercial products -Low-Order Products (frequently purchased items ex: milk, lottery tickets) -Middle-Order Products (items purchased from time-to-time, Ex: cd’s, calculators etc…) -High-Order Products (items purchased infrequently ex: Theatres, special books, rock climbing equipment etc…)

5 types of commercial land use: Local Service Centre ex: Mac’s/Lorenzo complex Neighborhood Plazas and Ribbons ex: Elmvale Acres Mall Community Shopping Centres (Malls) ex: South Keys Regional Shopping Centres ex: Rideau Centre Central Business District (CBD) -Highest concentration of tall buildings

Industrial 6% of Urban Land Use Factories, warehousing, and shipping (Pre and post 40’s development of land, post 40’s assembly line = more land required. Pre-40’s concentration towards the CBC,  auto use). What is happening to old industrial buildings in the CBD?

Institutional/Public Buildings 10% of urban land use Hospitals, government buildings, religious, schools   Open Space / Recreational 7% of urban land use This can be previously developed land which is vacant Natural land (woodlot or cemetery) Playgrounds, playing fields, golf courses etc… This enhances quality of urban life

Four Factors Affecting Land-Use Patterns Land Value Most accessible land is highest value (ex: CBD, 4 corners) As price increases lot size decreases (higher density housing) Zoning Laws passed by a variety of governments that control the type of development allowed for a particular area. Help to avoid conflicts Technology Road widening, automobile use Climate Climate affects design and architecture of growth. Ex: underground walkways like Carleton University’s “tunnels” or Winnipeg’s portage and main street crosswalk

Urban Sprawl As a city expands it grows outwards beyond its suburbs Cities can expand into the rural-urban fringe (where city meets rural) Urban Sprawl occurs when development is continuous and haphazard Haphazard meaning random, without planning Quite often you see all types of development in the same area. You might find farmland next to subdivisions, major highways, car dealerships, wreckers. Almost anything goes!!