1. Rural Settlement Patterns
CGC1D Mar. 24, 2014
Rural Settlement Patterns

2. Factors that affect the pattern of rural settlement:
The RESOURCES in the area
Resources = JOBS
*Which jobs would be associated with the following landscapes?

3. 2. TRANSPORTATION methods at the time of settlement.
Any communities established before 1800 were based on water transportation
Communities established after 1800 were based on road and rail transportation

4. 3. GOVERNMENT Policy
In some areas, settlement occurred with little to no government input
In others, the government carefully planned how, where, and when settlement would occur.
Three different settlement patterns can be found across Canada:

5. Long Lots of Southern Quebec
Created 1627
Land was owned by King of France
Developed along waterways (St. Lawrence River) for transportation
Settled before survey system implemented
Long, thin farms
Heritage Law – owners had to divide land amongst offspring
Taxes based on width of lot

7. Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
Excellent soil conditions
Access to river ways
Narrow – lower taxes
Close to neighbours
Cons
Narrow lots hard to work
Land became small and unworkable when divided amongst offspring

8. Concession System in Ontario
Southern Ontario
Occurred after survey system was in place
Based on road and railways – no longer dependent on water
Concession Roads are parallel to waterway, and side roads are perpendicular
Approx. 2 km apart (4 km square grids)- then divided into lots

10. Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
Excellent soil for agriculture
Access to roadways
Easier access to land
Cons
Further from neighbours

11. Section System in Southern Prairies
Found from Manitoba to the Rocky Mountains
Land was surveyed before settlement occurred
Based on latitude and longitude
Baseline is the 49th parallel
A family would get one quadrant – approx. 64ha in size

13. Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
Land was well suited for modern farm machinery
Cons
Soil was less fertile - needed larger farms
Resulted in farm consolidation
Some distance between neighbours

14. Issues with Rural Areas Today
Movement towards urbanization
Movement to commercial farming
Technology is advancing farming practices
Fewer services provided within rural regions
Increased costs for goods and services
Less rural areas as a result of urbanization
Urban sprawl – rapid and widespread urbanization
Rural depopulation – need larger farms so people buy other land, children leave for school and stay in other cities for employment, etc.