Types of Settlements : rural and urban

&<–2/”>a >nbsp;

Settlement can be defined as any form of human habitation which ranges from a single dwelling to large city. The word settlement has another connotation as well as this is a process of opening up and settling of a previously uninhabited area by the people. In geography this process is also known as occupancy.

Settlements can broadly be divided into two types – rural and urban. Before discussing about meaning and types of rural and urban settlement in India, we should know some basic differences between rural and urban areas in general. (i) The major difference between rural and urban areas is the function. Rural areas have predominantly primary activities, whereas urban areas have domination of secondary and tertiary activities. (ii) Generally the rural areas have low density of Population than urban.

Types of Rural Settlements:

Geographers have suggested various schemes of Classification. If we group settlements found all over the country, these can broadly be grouped under four categories:

Compact/clustered/nucleated settlement
Semi-compact/Semi-clustered/fragmented settlement
Hemleted settlement
Dispersed settlement

Compact Settlements:

As the name suggests, these settlements have closely built up area. Therefore in such settlements all the dwellings are concentrated in one central sites and these inhabited area is distinct and separated from the farms and pastures.
Maximum settlements of our country comes under this category. They are spread over almost every part of the country.
These settlements are distributed over the entire northern Indo-Ganga plain (from Punjab in the north-west to West Bengal in the east), Orissa coast, basins of Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, cauvery delta of Tamil Nadu, Maidaus of Karnataka, lower Assam and Tripura, in the valleys of Siwaliks etc.
Sometimes people live in compact settlement for security or defence purpose. The greatest example of this type is in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
In Rajasthan also people live in compact settlement because of the scarce availability of cultivable land and water body. Therefore, they want to make maximum use of available natural Resources.

Semi compact Settlement:

As the name suggests, the dwellings or houses are not well-knitted. Such settlements are characterized by a small but compact nuclears around which hamlets are dispersed.

It covers more area than the compact settlements.
These settlements are found both in plains and plateaus depending upon the environmental conditions prevailing in that area.
Such settlements are situated along streams in Manipur Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh, and Rajgarh district of Chhattisgarh. Different tribal groups inhabit such settlements in the Chhota Nagpur region. In Nagaland, such settlements may be in the form of blushing villages.

Hamleted Settlements:

These type of settlements, are fragmented into several small units. The main settlement does not have much influence on the other units. Very often the original site is not easily distinguishable and these hamlets are often spread over the area with intervening fields. This segregation is often influenced by social and ethnic factors. The hamlets are locally named as faliya, para, dhana, dhani, nanglay etc. These settlements are generally found in West Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and coastal plains. Geographically it covers lower Ganga plain, lower valleys of the Himalayas and central plateau or upland region of the country.

Dispersed Settlements:

This is also known as isolated settlements. Here the settlement is characterized by units of small size which may consist of a single house to a small group of houses. It varies from two to seven huts. Therefore, in this type, hamlets are scattered over a vast area and does not have any specific pattern. Such type of settlements are found in tribal areas of central part of India covering Chhota Nagpur plateau, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc. Such patterns are also common in the hills of north Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

There are three factors that influence the type of settlements in India. These factors are (i) Physical (ii) Ethnic or cultural and (iii) Historical or defence. Let us discuss these factors one by one.

Physical Factors:

These include relief, altitude, Soil capability, Climate, drainage, ground water level, etc. These factors influence the type and spacing of dwelling or instance, in dry regions of Rajasthan, water is a crucial factor and, therefore, houses are situated along a pond or well which guides the compactness of the settlement.

Ethnic and Cultural Factors:

These include aspects like caste, community, ethnicity and religion. In India it is commonly found that the main land owning caste resides at the centre of the village and the other service providing castes on the periphery. This leads to social segregation and fragmentation of a settlement into several units

Historical or Defence Factors:

In the past, mostly border areas of northwestern plains were conquered or attacked frequently by outsiders. For a long time, apart from attack from outsiders, there had been continuous fight between princely states and kingdom within the country therefore, security concerns favoured the evolution of nucleated settlements.

Type of urban settlement:

Like rural settlements, urban settlements are classified on various bases. However, classification based on size and function are most common. Let us discuss them one by one

Classification based on Population Size

According to population size, Census Of India classifies urban centres into six classes. Classwise urban settlements and their population

Class Population

Class I 1,00,000 and above

Class II 50,000 – 99,999

Class III 20,000 – 49,999

Class IV 10,000 – 19,999

Class V 5,000 – 9,999

Class VI less than 5,000

There is another classification of urban settlements. The classification is as follows:

Town Places which have less than one lakh population

City Urban centres having population between one lakh to one million.

Metropolitan Cities Cities having population in between one million to five million

Mega cities Cities having more than 5 million population,

Types of Settlements: Rural and Urban

A settlement is a human community that occupies a specific geographic location. Settlements can be classified into two main types: rural and urban.

Rural settlements are those that are located in relatively sparsely populated areas. They are typically characterized by a low population density, a focus on agriculture or other primary industries, and a relatively small size. Rural settlements can be further classified into hamlets, villages, and towns.

A hamlet is a small, isolated settlement with a population of less than 100 people. Hamlets are typically located in rural areas and are often associated with agriculture or other primary industries.

A village is a larger settlement than a hamlet, with a population of between 100 and 1,000 people. Villages are typically located in rural areas and are often associated with agriculture or other primary industries.

A town is a larger settlement than a village, with a population of between 1,000 and 10,000 people. Towns are typically located in rural or suburban areas and are often associated with commerce or Industry.

Urban settlements are those that are located in relatively densely populated areas. They are typically characterized by a high population density, a focus on secondary or tertiary industries, and a relatively large size. Urban settlements can be further classified into cities, metropolitan areas, and megalopolises.

A city is a large, densely populated settlement with a population of more than 10,000 people. Cities are typically located in urban areas and are often associated with commerce, industry, or government.

A metropolitan area is a large urban area that consists of a central city and its surrounding suburbs. Metropolitan areas are typically defined by commuting patterns, and they can have populations of millions of people.

A megalopolis is a very large urban area that consists of multiple metropolitan areas that have merged together. Megalopolises are typically found in developed countries, and they can have populations of tens of millions of people.

The distribution of rural and urban settlements varies from country to country. In some countries, such as the United States, the majority of the population lives in urban areas. In other countries, such as China, the majority of the population lives in rural areas.

The distribution of rural and urban settlements is also affected by a number of factors, including climate, geography, and Economic Development. For example, in cold climates, people tend to live in urban areas because they offer more opportunities for EMPLOYMENT and Education. In hot climates, people tend to live in rural areas because they offer more opportunities for agriculture.

The distribution of rural and urban settlements also has a significant impact on the Environment. Urban areas tend to have a higher environmental impact than rural areas because they require more energy and resources. Rural areas, on the other hand, tend to have a lower environmental impact because they are less developed.

The distribution of rural and urban settlements is a complex issue that is affected by a number of factors. The distribution of rural and urban settlements also has a significant impact on the environment.

What is a rural settlement?

A rural settlement is a human community that is located in a relatively sparsely populated area. Rural settlements are typically characterized by a low population density, a focus on agriculture or other primary industries, and a relatively small size.

What is an urban settlement?

An urban settlement is a human community that is located in a relatively densely populated area. Urban settlements are typically characterized by a high population density, a focus on secondary and tertiary industries, and a relatively large size.

What are the differences between rural and urban settlements?

There are many differences between rural and urban settlements. Some of the most notable differences include:

Population density: Rural settlements have a low population density, while urban settlements have a high population density.
Economic activity: Rural settlements are typically focused on agriculture or other primary industries, while urban settlements are typically focused on secondary and tertiary industries.
Size: Rural settlements are typically small, while urban settlements are typically large.
Social structure: Rural settlements tend to have a more traditional social structure, while urban settlements tend to have a more diverse social structure.
Culture: Rural settlements tend to have a more traditional culture, while urban settlements tend to have a more cosmopolitan culture.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a rural settlement?

There are both advantages and disadvantages to living in a rural settlement. Some of the advantages include:

A slower pace of life
A sense of community
More affordable housing
Less pollution
More access to nature

Some of the disadvantages include:

Fewer job opportunities
Less access to amenities
Longer commute times
Less diversity
More crime

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in an urban settlement?

There are both advantages and disadvantages to living in an urban settlement. Some of the advantages include:

More job opportunities
More access to amenities
Shorter commute times
More diversity
Less crime

Some of the disadvantages include:

A faster pace of life
Less sense of community
More expensive housing
More pollution
Less access to nature

Which type of settlement is better?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best type of settlement for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a slower pace of life and a sense of community, then a rural settlement may be a good choice for you. If you are looking for more job opportunities and access to amenities, then an urban settlement may be a better choice. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to visit both types of settlements and see which one feels like the best fit for you.

Which of the following is not a type of settlement?
(A) Urban
(B) Rural
(C) Suburban
(D) Industrial
Which of the following is a characteristic of a rural settlement?
(A) High population density
(B) Low population density
(C) Large size
(D) Small size
Which of the following is a characteristic of an urban settlement?
(A) High population density
(B) Low population density
(C) Large size
(D) Small size
Which of the following is a benefit of living in a rural area?
(A) More affordable housing
(B) More job opportunities
(C) Less pollution
(D) More access to amenities
Which of the following is a benefit of living in an urban area?
(A) More job opportunities
(B) More access to amenities
(C) Less pollution
(D) More affordable housing
Which of the following is a challenge of living in a rural area?
(A) Less access to amenities
(B) Less job opportunities
(C) More pollution
(D) Higher cost of living
Which of the following is a challenge of living in an urban area?
(A) Higher cost of living
(B) More pollution
(C) Less access to nature
(D) Less affordable housing
Which of the following is a type of rural settlement?
(A) Village
(B) Town
(C) City
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a type of urban settlement?
(A) Village
(B) Town
(C) City
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is the largest type of settlement?
(A) Village
(B) Town
(C) City
(D) Metropolitan area