Linear settlement

Some communities along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, developed as linear settlements, as is still clearly seen in Champlain, Quebec
Picture of Victoria City
A picture of Victoria City between 1860 and 1865
Map of Victoria City (and Kowloon across the Victoria Harbour)
A map of Victoria City (bottom) and the city of Kowloon across the harbour, of 1915

In geography, a linear settlement is a (normally small to medium-sized) settlement or group of buildings that is formed in a long line.[1] Many follow a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal though some form due to physical restrictions, such as coastlines, mountains, hills or valleys, as in the case of Victoria, Hong Kong. Linear settlements may have no obvious centre, such as a road junction or green.[2] Linear settlements have a long and narrow shape.

In the case of settlements built along a route, the route probably predated the settlement, and then the settlement grew up at some way station or feature, growing along the transport route. Often, it is only a single street with houses on either side of the road. Mileham, Norfolk, England is a good example of this. Later development may add side turnings and districts away from the original main street. Places such as Southport, England developed in this way.

A linear settlement is in contrast with ribbon development, which is the outward spread of an existing town along a main street.

Linear villages

A linear village[3] or a chain village[4] is a village that is also a linear settlement.

See also

References

  1. ↑ English heritage thesaurus, 23-05-2013
  2. ↑ Linear settlements, 23-05-2013
  3. ↑ geograph, SE0817 : Outlane - a linear village, 23-05-2013
  4. ↑ http://www.pg.geo.uj.edu.pl/documents/3189230/4676039/2003_112_161-172.pdf

External links

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