Settlement patterns refer to how human settlements are distributed across a geographical area. It includes factors such as location choice, population density, spatial arrangement, and types of settlements (e.g., rural vs. urban).
Related terms
Urbanization: Urbanization refers to the process of increasing population concentration in cities due to factors such as industrialization and economic development.
Frontier: A frontier is an undeveloped or sparsely populated area at the edge of settled regions where exploration and settlement may occur.
Migration: Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another with intentions of settling permanently or temporarily.