Settlement Patterns and Survey Methods

What is a Land-Use Pattern?

• Refers to how land is used in a given area.
• Types include residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and natural.
• Influences the quality of life and environmental health.
• Analyzed for planning sustainable communities.

Factors Affecting Land-Use Patterns

• Market demand: Drives land use based on demand for goods/services.
• Natural resources: Availability affects land use (e.g., water for agriculture).
• Transportation: Feasibility of land use based on transportation infrastructure.
• Government policies: Zoning, tax incentives, and infrastructure affect land use.
• Environmental factors: Climate, topography, and hazards influence land use.

Rural Settlement Patterns

What is a Rural Settlement Pattern?

• Describes community organization in rural areas.
• Types include dispersed, nucleated, and linear settlements.
• Influenced by resources, infrastructure, cultural traditions, and economic options.

Importance of Rural Settlement Patterns

• Access to resources/services: Affects availability and access to essential services.
• Economic development: Influences land use for agriculture and industry.
• Environmental impacts: Shapes land use and natural resource management.
• Cultural/social factors: Reflects cultural heritage and social cohesion.

Types of Rural Settlement Patterns

Clustered Settlement

• Families live near each other, surrounded by fields.
• Benefits include resource efficiency and community cohesion.
• Challenges include potential overcrowding.

Dispersed Settlement

• Homes are isolated, spread over a large area.
• Benefits include resource access and privacy.
• Challenges include infrastructure provision and potential isolation.

Linear Settlement

• Structures in a line along transport routes.
• Benefits include access to economic opportunities and transportation.
• Challenges include environmental impacts and infrastructure needs.

Rural Survey Methods

Long Lot

• Land divided into narrow, perpendicular lots to a resource.
• Ensures equal access to resources like water or roads.

Metes and Bounds

• Boundaries defined by physical landmarks and measurements.
• Useful in irregular landscapes.

Township and Range

• Land divided into a grid of six-mile blocks and smaller plots.
• Facilitates organized land distribution and development.

Key Terms to Review

• Clustered Settlement Pattern: Dense grouping of structures for economic/social benefits.
• Dispersed Settlement Pattern: Spread of homes over a large area, influenced by agriculture and culture.
• Environmental Factors: Physical characteristics affecting societal development.
• Government Policies: Influence land use, migration, and demographics.
• Land-Use Pattern: Arrangement of activities like residential and commercial uses.
• Linear Settlement Pattern: Linear arrangement of structures along transport routes.
• Long Lot Survey Method: Land parcels in long strips for resource access.
• Market Demand: Consumer demand impacts agricultural systems and settlement.
• Metes and Bounds Survey Method: Land defined by landmarks and directions.
• Natural Resources: Materials shaping human activities and settlement.
• Rural Settlement Pattern: Spatial arrangements in rural areas.
• Township and Range Survey Method: Grid-like land division for organized settlement.
• Transportation: Movement of goods/people shaping economic development.