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. Linear settlements may have no obvious centre, such as a road junction.[2] Linear settlements have a long and narrow shape.

In the case of settlements built along a route, the route 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 Archived 2007-09-14 at the Wayback Machine., 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
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