Rural Settlement Patterns

Factors affecting rural settlement: Resources in an area Economic base of an area Agriculture vs forestry or mining Transportation methods available at time of settlement Pre-1800 – water Post 1800 – roads and rail Options for settlement expand as technology develops

(cont’d) Government policy Survey system is a set of rules that controls: how land will be settled The pattern of land division Determines size and shape of farms Pattern of roads Location of towns

# 1 Long lots Rich agricultural areas along St. Lawrence River and tributaries Water most important form of transportation Long narrow lots with small river frontage Created a safer environment

#2 Concessions Systems rich agriculture Built on a network of roads (later rail) Concessions and side roads Township = group of concessions A group of Townships = Region Concessions Townships Region

Side Road Concession

#3 Section System (Prairies) Land was divided into large blocks Blocks divided into 36 sections Sections divided into 4 quarters Developed in US where rainfall was greater Consolidation: Farmers had to buy up neighboring quarters because production was not enough