Rural Settlement Patterns Factors affecting rural settlement 1

Rural Settlement Patterns

Factors affecting rural settlement: 1. Resources in an area – Economic base of an area • Agriculture vs forestry or mining 2. Transportation methods available at time of settlement – Pre-1800 – water – Post 1800 – roads and rail – Options for settlement expand as technology develops

(cont’d) 3. Government policy – Survey system is a set of rules that controls: • how land will be settled • The pattern of land division • Determines – size and shape of farms – Pattern of roads – Location of towns

# 1 Long lots • Rich agricultural areas along St. Lawrence River and tributaries • Water most important form of transportation • Long narrow lots with small river frontage • Created a safer environment

#2 Concessions Systems • rich agriculture • Built on a network of roads (later rail) – Concessions and side roads • Township = group of concessions • A group of Townships = Region • Concessions Townships Region

Side Road Concession

#3 Section System (Prairies) • Land was divided into large blocks – Blocks divided into 36 sections – Sections divided into 4 quarters • Developed in US where rainfall was greater – Consolidation: • Farmers had to buy up neighboring quarters because production was not enough