Central Place theory
A detailed Summary of Central Place theory
Central Place Theory (CPT) is an attempt to explain the spatial arrangement, size, and number of settlements. Central place theory is an economic theory which explains patterns of urbanization and establishment of market areas for different goods and services. The theory was originally published in 1933 by a German geographer Walter Christaller, who studied the settlement patterns in southern Germany. In the flat landscape of southern Germany, Christaller noticed that towns of a certain size were roughly equidistant. By examining and defining the functions of the settlement structure and the size of the hinterland, he found it possible to model the pattern of settlement locations using geometric shapes usually triangles and hexagons. Christaller examined the factors which caused variation or deviation from his and other settlement hierarchy models. It is now possible to incorporate factors which cause the variation in the regular geometry of CPT in the neural network modeling framework.
Christaller noted three different arrangements of central places: the marketing principle K=3 system, the transportation principle K=4 system, the administrative

Hierarchy has become a dirty word in some academic circles, but with central place theory, hierarchy is as natural as the ecological spread of vegetation. The question is--will there be a stable long lasting relationship, or a 'dysfunctional' one? In biology, if one species dominates too much, it ends up killing itself off. The cities need the 'export dollars' provided by people in small towns, and the small towns need the specialized services provided by the cities. A strategy which helps both of them develop--in which state level development resources are shared--seems to be reasonable and wise.)
Central place theory does a good job of describing the location of trade and service activity. (It also does a good job of describing consumer market oriented manufacturing.) Trade and service activity has an increasing relevance as the U.S. economy shifts from manufacturing to services over time. Small-town community economic developers can secure quite specific, relevant information about what kind of trade or service enterprise will likely work, and what kind of enterprise will not likely work in a given small community.
"Central place theory empha
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 779
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
Category: English
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