Commack Schools
AP Human GeographyChapter 12 – Services and SettlementsMrs. BellisariKey Issue#2 – Where are Consumer services distributed? Central Place TheoryBasic Questions on Central Place TheoryWhy are almost all medical specialists found in large cities?Why are almost all professional sports teams located in large cities? 5026305209423Why can there be three Dunkin Donuts within a 3 mile radius or 3 TD Banks within three miles of Commack High School?The Central Place Theory was developed by Walter Christaller in 1933.Key TerminologyCentral Place – market center where goods/services are exchanged with surrounding customers (Cities/towns usually serve this function)Market area/Hinterland (nodal region) -Area serviced 484314574930Range - maximum distance people willing to travel for something (Groceries v. medical care) (TIME! Not distance)Threshold - minimum number of people (customers) needed to sustain a business (viable) Developers of shopping malls, department stores, and large supermarkets typically count only higher-income people.Reasons why a threshold could dropA drop in populationChange in cultureIntroduction of substitutes Breaking Point - line where customers will choose to go to another business for a service/goodLow order goods – necessities – cheap products that are purchased frequently (low range and low threshold)High order goods - luxuries – not essential and are purchased infrequently (high range and high threshold)An example of a low order good would be Walmart. Walmart sells groceries that people need and purchase often.An example of a high order good would be BMW car dealership. Cars are a luxury and are not purchased often.Small settlements, such as hamlets, would have few low order goods. Larger settlements, such as a city, would have more low order goods and high order goods.Central Place TheoryCentral Place Theory attempts to explain the pattern of settlements & Urban Hierarchy = HamletVillageTownCityMega cityWorld cityCities are economic hubs because diverse services & goods are not available in smaller settlementsCentral Places compete with each other for services & goods Thus, larger the city, greater the distance between it & its rivals915035151765COLOR TIME!!!!Central Place TheoryWhy do we not ever see a perfect central place hierarchy?Physical geography is important! Topography and hydrography interfere.Consumer behavior is determined by more than economic considerations.The automobile has made long-distance travel popular (cheap and easy).People make multiple-purpose shopping trips, often bypassing the smallest places. The Internet has made it unnecessary to have customers nearby. ................
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