Dr Shen Jianfa CUHK Geography 1

A-Level Geography SeminarA-Level Geography Seminar

Central Place Theory: Central Place Theory: The Theory, its limitations The Theory, its limitations

and Applicationsand Applications

Dr Jianfa ShenDr Jianfa Shen

Department of Geography and Resource ManagementDepartment of Geography and Resource ManagementThe Chinese University of Hong KongThe Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Central place theory: Basic concepts

Developed by Walter Christaller in 1933 “Central Places in southern Central Places in southern GermanyGermany”.

It is a deductive theory to explain the number, location, size, spacing and functions of settlements in terms of the services they performed for surrounding hinterlands.

Central place: a service center, a settlement providing a range of goods and services to the surrounding areas.

Centrality: the functions or services provided by central place. The higher the centrality of a central place is, the more the variety of services

and the higher the order of services it provides. Hinterlands: the market areas covered by the services of central places that

may include smaller central places. The higher the centrality of a central place is, the larger the hinterland.

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Assumption of idealized landscape

An uniform transportation surface, the relative accessibility between any two points is a direct function of their distance.

Population is evenly distributed. The goods and services are only provided in central places Each point has an equal chance of receiving a central place

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Service rangesService ranges

Upper limit of the range: the maximum distance (r) a consumer will travel to a

center to obtain goods, the maximum area to be served from a center will be a circular region of radius r.

Lower limit of the range: the minimum radius (r’) of a circular service area with

sufficient population (threshold population) to generate sufficient demands to make the central place economically viable to provide the service.

Example: Example: Key maker servicesKey maker services

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Service rangesService ranges

Lower-order serviceLower-order service Smaller upper limit and lower limit Smaller market area Low-order center

Higher-order serviceHigher-order service Larger upper limit and lower limit Larger market area High-order center

The size of market area will be between the lower and upper The size of market area will be between the lower and upper limitslimits

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Market areas: Circle or square?

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Market areas: Market areas: Hexagon?Hexagon?

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Deriving the highest-order central places

The upper limit of the highest order services is used to obtain the area for central places ranked ‘B’ to meet marketing principle a ;

Each central place serves a circular area with radius ‘r’ and the distance between any two central places is 2r; but some areas are not served;

To meet marketing principle b, a modified structure of overlapping circles is necessary. Assume consumers go to the nearest central place, exclusive regular hexagonal areas are obtained as the service areas for B centers.

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Deriving the lower-order central places

For goods and services with a smaller upper limit of range (e), some areas cannot be served by B centers, thus lower-order K centers are needed;

To be most competitive with B centers, these K centers will be located in the center of areas not served with maximum distance to all B centers;

These K centers are also the corners of the hexagonal areas of B centers;

Each B center service area will cover three K center service areas, this was called k=3 framework.

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Central Place TheoryCentral Place Theory

K=3

Marketing principle

K=4

Transport principle

K=7 Administration principle

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Contributions of central place Contributions of central place theorytheory

It defines the ideal pattern of central places and It defines the ideal pattern of central places and explains why an urban hierarchy may exist in the explains why an urban hierarchy may exist in the reality. reality. A small number of high-order centers serve large

hinterland;Many low-order centers serve small hinterland.

It provides a basis for planning the size and spacing It provides a basis for planning the size and spacing of centers in newly-developing areas.of centers in newly-developing areas.

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LimitationsLimitations

An uniform transportation surface, the relative accessibility between any two points is a direct function of their distance. In reality, there are transport routes and natural barriers

like rivers and coastal lines. Accessibility is different over space

Population is evenly distributed. In reality, population density is uneven. Other than

services, population is also related to manufacturing activities.

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LimitationsLimitations

Each point has an equal chance of receiving a central place Physical conditions, historical legacy and government policy may

favour particular locations. Above factors will distort the ideal size, location and spacing of

central places.

Highest-order center offers all the low-order servicesHighest-order center offers all the low-order services Some low-order service may not be offered in highest-order center

The centers of the same order will offer same range of The centers of the same order will offer same range of servicesservices The services offered by the centers of the same order may be different

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LimitationsLimitations

Discrete distribution of the size of central placesDiscrete distribution of the size of central placesNumber of central places by order in K=3 system1, 2, 6, 18, 54, 162, 486, …

Real urban system is the result of SPACIAL Real urban system is the result of SPACIAL PROCESSES and the Physical, Historical conditions PROCESSES and the Physical, Historical conditions and Policies.and Policies.

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ApplicationsApplications

The impact of increased population density or The impact of increased population density or increased income of populationincreased income of populationConsumer expenditure will increaseFurther high-order services will be required Increase the potential number of levels of hierarchy Increase the degree of functional specialization of the

highest-order center

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ApplicationsApplications

The impact of improved transportation on central The impact of improved transportation on central place systemplace systemPopulation mobility increasedPeople are willing to travel longer to obtain servicesMarket area of a central place will expandRestructuring of central places, some have to be closed.