Site and Settlement Factors

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Chapter 3

• Site and Settlement Factors

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Site Factors

• This term refers to the physical landscape of the
  location.
• Examples of site factors include
• Transportation
• settlements are often located near bodies of
  water (rivers, harbours) because ships used to be
  the main mode of transportation.
• Access to resources
• settlements are traditionally located near the
  resources people need to survive (fresh water,
  sources of food, trees or stones to construct
  houses). Sometimes settlements are established
  because of the discovery of a mineral (Sudbury,
  ON was settled because of the presence of
  nickel.)
• Defence
• traditionally settlements were often located in
  areas that were easy to defend (island, hill or
  on a peninsula.)

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Situation Factors

• The situation of a settlement refers to its
  relationship to surrounding areas. This
  relationship will often determine the size and
  function of the city.
• Examples of situation factors include
• Transportation railways, highways, rivers, and
  airports may make a settlement an important
  location for the movement of goods and services.
  Windsor, ON is an example of this.
• Trade Vancouvers location on the Pacific coast
  and large port has created a strong trading
  relationship with Asian countries.
• Political some settlements are established or
  develop into administrative areas. Victoria
  functions as the capital of British Columbia.

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• Site and situation factors have evolved over
  time.
• For example, Modern settlements do not
  necessarily need to be located next to water.
• A settlements relationship (situation) to other
  places will change over time.

5
Halifax Site and Situation Factors

• The British originally selected to settle Halifax
  because the geography of the area made it a good
  military outpost.
• Site
• Transportation ease of access because of a deep
  water, ice-free harbour.
• Access to Resources fish, trees to construct
  houses, etc.
• Defence peninsula, the Citadels elevation, and
  islands at the entrance to the harbour protect
  the city.

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• Situation
• Transportation commercial ships use the harbour
  to transport goods. The railway connects Halifax
  to central Canada.
• Trade strong trading relationships developed
  with the New England states.
• Political as Halifax grew it developed into the
  political centre of Nova Scotia. Many people are
  employed in government jobs.