Factors for Site, Growth & Function of Settlements (Cambridge International IGCSE Geography)

Spec point — 1.5.2 · Describe and explain the factors which may influence the sites, growth & functions of settlement

Factors For Site, Growth & Function of Settlements

Factors influencing site and situation

• The land that the town is built on is called the site

• Situation can be thought of as where the town is in relation to other things, like a forest, a lake, or something else

• Before building on a spot or choosing a situation, there are factors to consider

  • What is the availability of water for transport, drinking, irrigation, washing, etc.? But it is not suitable to build next to the river in case of flooding
  • Farming on a floodplain is good because the land is rich in alluvium deposits
  • Building on level ground is easier but harder to defend
  • Accessibility can be a problem, particularly if the relief is too steep, as transport and commerce can be affected, especially if they are near to ports, bridges or weirs
  • It's important to think about the proximity to other places, especially for work or getting goods
  • What is the aspect? In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes are warmer and sunnier than north-facing slopes, making them better for growing crops

• A wet point site is when there is a reliable supply of water from a well or spring

• A dry point site is when the site is raised above natural, poorly drained land

• A spring-line settlement develops as it follows the path of available springs or wells, particularly at the foot of chalk and limestone hills

Growth of settlements

• Factors that affect the growth include:

  • Climate: too extreme and settlements remain small
  • Raw materials: multiplier effect, more investment means more opportunities, which attracts people to the area, therefore, there is growth within the settlement
  • Fertile land allows for excess to be sold and non-farming services can be supported, allowing for the natural growth of a settlement
  • Location: central to other places, access for trade, etc
  • Historical: the seat of government, universities, etc.

Function of settlements

• The function of settlements change over time

• There are a lot of settlements that start with just one purpose and add more as they grow or have to change. For example:

  • Liverpool in the UK used to be a major trade port, but that role started to fade in the 1970s when containers came along and the Mersey became too weak for big ships to dock
  • Liverpool's economy has become based on tourism, which has grown thanks to The Beatles and the Merseybeat era
  • Liverpool beat other British cities like Newcastle and Birmingham to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008
  • In 2004, the city's waterfront was named a World Heritage Site. However, that designation was taken away in 2021 because the site's redevelopment didn't keep it true to its marine roots

• Other functions include:

  • Political
  • Dormitory
  • Agricultural
  • Tourism
  • Mining
  • Port
  • Market town
  • Fishing
  • Residential
  • Industrial

Worked Example **Suggest reasons for the growth of nucleated settlements. **

[4 Marks]

• The command word here is 'suggest'; therefore, you need to come up with valid, justifiable reasons

• The focus of the question must be on nucleation and not growth

• Possible answers include any four from ideas, such as:

  • roads from all directions meet/nodal point/crossroads****
  • flat land
  • no restrictions to development in any direction
  • presence of a water source, spring/well/lake
  • mine/natural resource/quarry
  • bridging point
  • defensive site, etc.