What is a Rural Settlements?

Rural settlements are places where people live in areas with a low population density and typically rely on activities like:

• Agriculture: This is the big one! Growing crops or raising livestock is the main way of life in rural areas.

• Fishing: Catching fish from freshwater lakes, rivers, or oceans is another common way people make a living in rural settlements near water.

• Forestry: Cutting down trees or managing forests for resources like timber is an important activity in some rural areas.

Here are some other key features of rural settlements:

• Smaller populations: Compared to cities, rural settlements have much fewer people living close together.

• Land focus: The way of life in rural areas is centred around using the land for agriculture, forestry, or other resource-based activities.

• Community: People in rural settlements often have close-knit communities where everyone knows each other.

The way rural settlements are laid out can vary depending on factors like access to water, historical circumstances, and cultural practices. Some common layouts include:

• Clustered: Houses are built close together in a central village area, with farms and fields surrounding the village.

• Linear: Settlements develop along linear features like roads, rivers, or coastlines.

• Scattered: Homesteads or farmsteads are spread out across the landscape with some distance between them.

Class 12 Geography Notes: Types of Rural Settlements is an important topic in CBSE Class 12 Geography. These notes are made by subject experts and cover all the different kinds of rural settlements found in India.

From clustered and semi-clustered settlements to hamleted and dispersed ones, you’ll learn about each type and what makes them different. These notes make it easy to understand with clear explanations and examples. They’re a great resource for students who want to do well in their geography exams.