1. By Will Bullock and Justin Hedrick
Central Place Theory
By Will Bullock and Justin Hedrick

2. Definition
Central Place Theory (CPT) is an attempt to explain the spatial arrangement, size, and number of settlements in an urban system.
Settlements simply functioned as central places providing services to surrounding areas.

3. Hearth
Central Place Theory was founded in 1933 in Germany by Walter Christaller.
He studied the settlement patterns in southern Germany
Theory was the foundation of the studies of cities as a systems of cities

4. Walter Christaller
Walter Christaller was born on April 21, 1893 in Germany.
Joined the Nazi Party in 1940 after his short-academic career ended.
Given special control of Poland.
Used Central Place Theory as an explicit guide.
Devoted himself to the geography of tourism.

5. Theories
In the orderly arrangement of an urban hierarchy, seven different principal orders of settlement have been identified by Christaller, providing different groups of goods and services. Settlement are regularly spaced, spacing between same order centers, with larger centers farther apart than smaller centers. Settlements have hexagonal market areas, and are most efficient in number and functions.

6. Theories Continued 3 Types K = 3 Marketing principle
K = 4 Transport/Traffic principle
K = 7 Administrative principle
The different layouts predicted by Christaller have K-values which show how much the Sphere of Influence of the central places takes in

7. Theories Continued K = 3 Marketing Principle
Although in this K = 3 marketing network the distance traveled is minimized, the transport network is not the most efficient, because there is no intermediate transport links (network) between the larger places.

8. Theories Continued K = 4 Transport/Traffic principle
This generates a hierarchy of central places which results in the most efficient transport network.
There are maximum central places possible located on the main transport routes connecting the higher order center.
The alignment of places along a road leads to minimization of road length.
Example: Cambridge

9. Theories Continued K = 7 Administrative principle
Settlements are nested according to sevens.
The market areas of the smaller settlements are completely enclosed within the market area of the larger settlement.
Efficient administration is the control principle in this hierarchy.

10. Problems
Static.
Does not hold up to industrial and post-industrial areas.
Does not incorporate development of central places.
Diversified nature of various services.
Varied distribution of natural resources.

11. Importance
In medical care regions, there is a hierarchy of services, with primary care ideally distributed throughout an area.
Middle sized cities offering secondary care.
Metropolitan areas with tertiary care.
Income, size of population, population demographics, distance to the next service center, all had an influence on the number and kind of specialists located in a population center.

12. Importance continued Orthopedic surgeons are found in ski areas.
Obstetricians in the suburbs.
Boutique specialties such as hypnosis, plastic surgery, psychiatry are more likely to be found in high income areas.
Important for the study of physician location.
Where physicians choose to practice.
Where their practices will have a sufficient population size to support them.

13. Other
It was once thought that central place theory is not compatible with spatial interaction models (SIM).
It is paradoxical however that some times towns or shopping centers are planned with central place theory, and subsequently evaluated with SIM.
Able to delineate medical care regions and describe the hierarchy of medical services.
The population base required of each medical specialty.
The efficiency of regions
Importance of how an area was settled to the delivery of medical care, that is, according to traffic, market or administrative principles.