A typical Zimbabwean rural homestead. Image credit lawhub.co.zw

A typical Zimbabwean rural homestead. Image credit lawhub.co.zw

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes: Settlements: Classification of settlements

  • Settlements are generally classified as either rural or urban.
  • Rural settlements are those settlements where mostly primary activities occur.
  • The majority of settlers in rural areas carry out primary activities in order to earn their living.
  • These include activities like mining, farming, fishing and forestry.
  • The populations of these settlements often depend on the surrounding land.
  • As such settlements grow, they also increase the variety of activities and may develop into urban settlements.
A typical urban house. Harare, Zimbabwe. Image credit chronicle.co.zw

A typical urban house. Harare, Zimbabwe. Image credit chronicle.co.zw

  • An urban settlement is one which mainly carries out secondary and tertiary functions.
  • Examples of such functions include commerce, banking, manufacturing and service provision businesses such as banking and insurance.
  • Urban settlements carry out a wider ranger of services when compared to rural settlements

To access more topics go to the Geography Notes page.