1. Why are Consumer Services Distributed in a Regular Pattern?
Ch. 12 Key Issue 3
Why are Consumer Services Distributed in a Regular Pattern?

2. What is a “regular pattern”?
Fixed, static, non changing pattern based on size of settlement (larger settlements have more services)
More services offered in larger settlements
What we get:
Central Place theory (which gives us):
Market Area Analysis (range + threshold + gravity model = optimal location)
Hierarchy of services and settlements (nesting pattern; rank-size/primate city rules)

3. Central Place Theory***
In the 1930s the German geographer Walter Christaller devised a way of describing how towns of different sizes were arranged - and how the services they supply is also arranged. This is called central place theory.
A central place is a market center.
Central places (ideally) are located centrally - to maximize access from the surrounding region.
Central places compete against each other to market goods and services.
Surrounding every central place is a market area (or hinterland) - the area from which customers come to the central place.

4. Central Place Theory Location is biggest factor for profitability
Walter Christaller helped identify the most profitable location
In a primary industry you have to locate where the resources are. In secondary and tertiary industries you can choose your location.
Market Area of a Service
Consumers attracted to central place from “hinterland” (hexagon)
People prefer to get services from closest location

5. “Daily Urban Systems”
Figure 12-16

6. Why do geographers use hexagons?
Central Place Theory
Figure 12-17

7. Central Place Theory Size of Market Area (hinterland)
Range and threshold determine size of market area, and explains why market size varies for different services
Range
How far are you willing to drive? - MAX distance
Radius of hexagon- irregularly shaped to take into account distance from competitors
Everyday goods/services have short ranges (groceries)
Special goods/services have long ranges (sports, concerts)

8. Central Place Theory
Threshold: What is the minimum # of customers needed to support service?
Common, inexpensive goods need lots of customers (fast food); small range with lots of customers inside market area
Special, expensive, unique goods need small amount of customers that will be willing to spend more money on these goods (jewelry); BUT sports teams/concert arenas need large thresholds to stay open.
Counting customers w/in irregularly shaped hexagon. Use Census!
Type of service determines how many people will be attracted (McDonalds vs Chiropractor)

10. How are rage and threshold depicted here?

11. Assumptions of Central Place Theory***
We assume we are dealing with a flat, featureless plain - no mountains, rivers, deserts, etc.
Labor is assumed to be available in all locations, and the population is evenly spread across the landscape.
Transportation is possible in all directions - there are no major rivers or roads to distort the pattern.
People will always travel the minimum distance necessary to get the goods and services they want.
The size of the market area is determined by two factors: the range and the threshold for each service offered in the central place.

12. Market-Area Analysis Determining profitability of the Market Area
Using range and threshold, a business will:
Compute the range (survey local people)
Compute the threshold (how much sales to make profit?)
Draw the market area (range + threshold statistics)
Optimal Location within a Market Area
If range and threshold justify, where do we locate?
Minimize distance for greatest # of people (gravity model)

13. Market Area-Analysis: Best Location
In a Linear Settlement
Build shop in the middle of everyone
Gravity Model
More people = more consumers (apartment vs home)
Further distance = less likely to use service
In a Nonlinear Settlement
Most settlements are more complex
Gravity model
Locate closest to largest amount of people

14. Why are these the best locations?

15. Hierarchy of Consumer Services
Nesting Pattern (click me!)
Markets do not exist in isolation, they are nested
MDCs have more small settlements with small thresh. and ranges than large settlements w/ large thresh. and range
Small settlements are within the market areas of larger settlements, which are in turn inside the market area of still larger settlements
Overlapping hexagons represent this “regular” looking pattern
Hamlet
Village
Town
City
City
Why can’t a large department store exist in a smaller settlement?
Town
Village
Hamlet

16. How is this pattern/model similar to the concept of the nesting dolls of Russia?
Figure 12-21

17. Central Place Theory
Hamlet
Village
Town
City

18. List Possible Cities:
Where would you find a McDonalds?
Where would a 5 star restaurant be?
Where would a grocery store be?
Where would a museum be?
Choose 4 locations for a new mall. Draw the market areas for each mall.

20. Central Place Theory: Summing Up***
Central places are market centers.
Central places compete against each other (fight for customers).
Small settlements only offer a small number and a small variety of services.
Larger settlements offer a greater number and a greater variety of services.
Settlements arrange themselves in a nested hierarchy - small market areas within larger market areas, within still larger market areas.
Obviously, the real world is more complicated than central place theory - but central place theory does give us insights into the ways that services and settlements tend to be arranged.

21. Hierarchy of Settlements
Rank-Size Rule (“regular pattern”) ; US is example
nth city is 1/n the size of the largest (if n = 2 then the 2nd largest city is 1/2 population of largest city)
Primate city rule
Largest city (the primate city) has more than 2x population of 2nd largest
European example: Denmark (Copenhagen = 1 mil; Arhus = 200,000)
Countries that follow the rank-size rule have a wide distribution of goods and services (found everywhere). Primate city countries do not because services will cluster in the main populated city!!!!.

22. Periodic Markets
Exist where demand is not sufficient to maintain a permanent market
Provides goods for residents in LDCs and rural areas in MDCs
These areas have low “purchasing power”- too low to maintain a regular service
Makes services available in areas where it would otherwise be possible
“farmers markets” bring fresh food to urban areas
Part of informal economy (economy not counted by government towards GDP)

23. Figure 12-23