Different types of human settlements?

Settlements are classified on the basis of their shape, patterns types which are discussed below: • Compact or Nucleated settlements: In these settlements large number of houses is built very close to each other. Such settlements develop along river valleys and in fertile plains. Communities are closely knit and share common occupations. Dispersed Settlements: In these settlements, houses are spaced far apart and often interspersed with fields. A cultural feature such as a place of worship or a market, binds the settlement together Rural Settlement Patterns Patterns of rural settlements contemplate the way the houses are sited in relation to each other. The site of the village, the surrounding topography and terrain influence the shape and size of a village. Rural settlements may be classified on the basis of a number of criteria: (i) On the basis of setting: The main types are plain villages, plateau villages, coastal villages, forest villages and desert villages. (ii) On the basis of functions: There may be farming villages, fishermen’s villages, lumberjack villages, pastoral villages etc. (iii) On the basis of forms or shapes of the settlements: These may be a number of geometrical forms and shapes such as Linear, rectangular, circular star like, T-shaped village, double village, cross-shaped village etc. • Linear pattern: In such settlements houses are located along a road, railway line, and river, canal edge of a valley or along a levee. • Rectangular pattern: Such patterns of rural settlements are found in plain areas or wide inter montane valleys. The roads are rectangular and cut each other at right angles. • Circular pattern: Circular villages develop around lakes, tanks and sometimes the village is planned in such a way that the central part remains open and is used for keeping the animals to protect them from wild animals. • Star like pattern: Where several roads converge, star shaped settlements develop by the houses built along the roads. • T-shaped, Y-shaped, Cross-shaped or cruciform settlements: T –shaped settlements develop at tri-junctions of the roads while –shaped settlements emerge as the places where two roads converge on the third one and houses are built along these roads. Cruciform settlements develop on the cross-roads and houses extend in all the four direction. • Double village: These settlements extend on both sides of a river where there is a bridge or a ferry.