Urban Settlement Functions and Land Use Zones

Economic and Social Functions of Towns

The function of a town relates to its economic and social development. In some cases, the original function is no longer applicable.

• Market towns: Collection and distribution centres for the surrounding farming area. Today, their functions will probably include the manufacturing and servicing of agricultural machinery and the processing of agricultural produce.
• Mining towns: These have grown due to the exploitation of a local fuel or mineral.
• Manufacturing/industrial towns: These have grown where raw materials are processed into manufactured goods.
• Ports: Include those on coasts, rivers, and lakes. These have grown at points where goods are moved from land to water, or vice versa.
• Route centres: Located at the junction of several natural routes or at nodal points resulting from economic development.
• Service towns: Have grown to provide for the needs of a local community. Services include shopping, recreation, education, and health.
• Cultural and religious settlements: Attract people from many parts of the world, even if only temporarily, to live and study.
• Administrative centres: May vary from smaller regional centres to capital cities.
• Residential towns: Are those in which the majority of the inhabitants are either retired or work elsewhere.
• Tourist resorts: Are modern in origin. Most are on coasts or in mountains.

Urban Zones and Land Use Patterns

New Industrial Areas

Industrial estates and business parks built since 1970, close to main roads. They are located close to main roads so that there is easy access for goods and employees.

Outer Suburbs

Modern housing. New houses and housing estates. New shopping centres, parks, and other open areas. The land around the edge of a settlement is much cheaper, and there is enough space to build housing estates.

Inner Suburbs

Housing from 1920-1950. Larger houses usually with gardens. Some parks and some rows of shops. Newer houses built for the growing population. The land is cheaper the further away from the CBD you go, so houses were built with gardens.

Inner City

19th-century housing. Terraced houses for the factory workers. Some now replaced by high-rise flats. Small corner shops. Located just outside the CBD. Houses were built near to the factories so that the workers could get to work easily.

Central Business District (CBD)

Large shops, offices, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, theatres, and museums. This is usually the original site of the settlement. It is centrally located because the rest of the settlement has grown around it.

Old Industrial Areas

Located along a river, canal, or railway. Many old factories are now closed. The area may look run down. They are located near to rivers, canals, and railways because they needed to transport goods in and out of the city.