Rural Settlement Patterns

A settlement pattern is the distribution of homes, farms, villages, towns, and cities in an area.

In Canada, these patterns vary enormously from place to place.

Population Distribution A pattern showing where people

live in an area. People tend to live in one of

three settlement patterns:1. Dispersed2. Concentrated3. Linear

Dispersed Typical of areas with an

agricultural base People tend to live on farms

Concentrated occur where other natural resources

are present these resources cause people to settle

near them.

Linear Occurs in a line that stretches

out for some distance over the landscape.

Settlement near a highway or the coast.

Population Density The number of people living in a

square kilometre.

Factors affecting Population Density and

Distribution1. Flat Land: For Agriculture and

buildings2. Adequate precipitation: For

drinking and agriculture3. Fresh Water Supplies: For

manufacturing and agriculture4. Transportation: For goods and

people5. Moderate Winters: For comfort

Factors affecting Population Density and

Distribution6. Availability of Power: For

electricity7. Resource Availability: For

Industry8. Good Soil: For agriculture9. History: An area settled

previously will encourage more people.

Rural Settlement Patterns

Rural settlement occurs where people live outside of cities and towns.

It is characterized by a dispersed population distribution pattern.

3 key factors affect the pattern of rural

settlement in any area:1. The kind of resources found in

the area: Most important factor SW Ontario is very different from

Canadian Shield2. The transportation methods

available at the time of settlement: Before 1800, settlement was near

water After 1800, settlement was near

roads

3. The role played by the government policy: In some areas the government

planned how, where, and when settlements would occur.

The government used a survey system, which is a pattern of land division used in an area.

Settlement patterns in Canada

Three different systems were used in different areas of

Canada.

1. Long Lots of Southern Quebec

Long lots stretched back from a river because it was the only means of transportation.

Taxes were based upon the width of the lots so they became very long and thin.

When all the suitable riverfront areas had been used, roads were built parallel to the river and back a distance.

Lots along the river

Road

Lots along the road

Lots along the road

Property line

River

2. Concession System of Southern Ontario

Surveyors started at the shoreline and then, spaced approx. 2km apart, a series of parallel lines was surveyed. These later became concession roads.

The resulting squares, about 2km by 2km are known as concessions, and portions of these were given to settlers to clear and farm.

Lake

Look at how the roadsintersect. This is where the concessions cametogether because of theshoreline curving.

3. Section System of the Southern Prairies

Western Canada was surveyed before there was any large scale settlement for three reasons:

The government was afraid that the U.S. might take over the Canadian west if there was no sign of occupation.

The population was growing in Ontario and there was a demand for more land.

The government wished to avoid the kind of land disputes that occurred in the U.S. when their west was settled (lawlessness, etc.).

The baseline was the 49th Parallel and sections were made that were 36 miles2.

These were subdivided into 36 one-mile2 blocks. Those blocks were then divided into quarter-sections which were then given to settlers or reserved for churches, schools, etc.

Baseline - 49th parallel

survey lines were 6 miles apart

These squares were subdivided into 36 sections, each 1 mile by 1 mile.

each “section” was 1 mile by 1 mile

each section was sub-divided into 4 “quarter-sections”, which were given to settlers, or reserved for churches, schools, the railways, the Hudson Bay Company, etc

Resource Based Settlement

A urban place that relies on a natural resource for its existence. For Example: Sudbury (Nickel)

Service Based Settlement This is an urban place that owes its

existence to a service industry. For example Gander NF (Airport & Gas stations) & Yellowknife (Gov’t)

Homework Read Chapter 19 Define the Key Terms Answer P. 233 # 1a – 3,