Factors Influencing Settlement Site, Growth & Functions (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography): Revision Note

Factors For Site, Growth & Function of Settlements

Factors influencing site and situation

• The site is the physical land that the settlement is built on

• The situation can be thought of as the position of the settlement in relation to other features e.g., forest, lake etc. 

• There are various factors to consider before building on a site or choosing a situation

  • Availability of water for transport, drinking, irrigation, washing etc, however, not suitable to build next to the river in case of flooding

  • Cultivation on a flood plain is desirable due to fertile soils from alluvium deposits

  • Building on level ground, but harder to defend or get materials to

  • Accessibility can be a problem particularly if the relief is too steep, as transport and commerce can be affected, especially if near to points of navigation or bridges or weirs

  • Proximity to other places needs to be considered, especially for work or to get supplies

• 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 elevated 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 - seat of government, universities etc. 

Function of settlements

• The function of settlements changes over time 

• Many settlements first start with only one function, then develop others as the settlement grows or is forced to change, for instance:

  • Liverpool, in the UK, began as a major port of trade, but this function went into decline during the 1970s with the advent of containerisation and the Mersey was too shallow to allow large ships into dock

  • Tourism has become the major function of Liverpool's economy, maximising on The Beatles and the Merseybeat era

  • In 2008, Liverpool became the European Capital of Culture, beating other British cities such as Newcastle and Birmingham

  • The city's waterfront was designated a World Heritage Site in 2004, but was revoked in 2021 as its redevelopment didn't maintain the site’s original authenticity - in other words, it lost what made it a maritime feature

• Other functions include:

  • Political

  • Dormitory

  • Agricultural

  • Tourism

  • Mining

  • Port

  • Market town

  • Fishing

  • Residential

  • Industrial