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Examples of a hierarchy of settlements based on the United Nations.

Answer Text:
Examples of a hierarchy of settlements based on the United Nations.
(a) Homestead (Compound consisting of 1-5 houses).
- Mostly in rural areas.
- Settlement can be dispersed/ clustered.
- Agricultural activities are the primary activities.
- Nuclear family could have about four people, while an extended one may have 15-20 people.
(b) Hamlet.
- A cluster of houses in an area.
- Smaller than a village.
- Based on some facilities of a village e.g. shops and a school.
(c) Village.
- A group of houses and other buildings in a rural area, smaller than a town but larger than a hamlet.
- Has a population of about 20,000 people.
- Education and administration services are offered.
(d) Town.
- A densely populated area with many buildings, larger than a village but smaller than a city.
- Has above 20,000 people but less than 100,000.
- More diversified commercial activities e.g. buying of agricultural machinery.
(e) City.
- An expensive build-up area where large numbers of people live and work.
- Population is high (above 100,000).
- A large town with a wide range of commercial activities.
- International airports/ seaports are available.
(f) Conurbation.
- A large urban area created when neighbouring towns aggregate into one large continuous town.
(g) Metropolis.
- A very large city, often the capital or chief urban centre of a country, state or region. e.g. New York,
Tokyo, Shanghai, Mexico City.
(h) Megalopolis.
- An extremely large, spreading, thickly populated urban area comprising many cities joined together to form an almost continuous urban region.
- E.g. in Eastern USA: Boston, Providence-New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.
(i) Urbanized area.
- Consists of a central city and its continuous built up suburbs.
- It does not take into account the legal or political boundaries.