Sociology and Space, No. 61-62, 1978.
Review article
Network of Rural Settlements and its Spatial Aspects
Mitko Panov
Abstract
By treating the spatial aspects
of the rural settlements' network as
an important component of
improvement and modern
transformation of rural areas,
this study has actually a
methological character and gives
practical examples. Basically, the
problems of depopulation and
deagrarianization arise also from
the territorial and functional
basical value of the settlements’
network. Apart from recognizing
and evaluating the location of
settlements, they should also be
analyzed through the so called
»spatial demography«. To be more
precise, the spatial aspects of the
settlements' network are to be
combined with the demographic
elements, and the essence of rural
settlements is to be recognized
more fully. In this way various
appearances, processes and
problems of socio-economic and
social character are practically
to be explained.
In the study the major spatial
parameters for the analysis of
settlements' network have been
stated, particularly within the
scope of spatial planning. Methods
for approach are given, some of
these being illustrated by examples
from the community of Titov Veles
in Macedonia. Special attention has
been paid to the analysis of the
village arrangement, with regard to
the distance from the central place
and with regard to the road
network, combined with some
demographic characteristics of the
population. Two criteria for the
determination of rural settlements,
according to the orographic
position, have been stressed.
Settlements are divided into plane,
hill and mountain settlements, the
configuration criterium playing
here a very important role. The study, as a whole, tends to
indicate, through spatial aspects
and spatial network demography of
rural settlements, one practical
method for solving the
transformational problems of rural
areas, namely various
socio-economic and sociological
problems.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119101
URI
Publication date:
12.12.1978.
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