locationsvillages

Locationsvillages is a term used in rural geography and regional planning to describe a network of small settlements that share a common geographic location or hub. The concept frames settlements as parts of a locational system rather than as isolated units, usually centered around a feature such as a market, transport node, or natural crossing.

Origin and usage: It is a neologism formed by combining "locations" and "villages" and appears in planning studies and GIS analyses to capture how settlements function in relation to a central location. It is not an official administrative category, but a descriptive label used to analyze accessibility and service provision within a locale.

Characteristics: Locationsvillages typically consist of several small villages aligned along a central spine or clustered around a hub. They may share infrastructure—schools, clinics, markets, roads—and display cohesive commuting and trade patterns.

Implications: For policy and planning, studying locationsvillages supports assessment of catchment areas for public services, optimization of transport networks, and prioritization of regional investments. It emphasizes inter-village connectivity and resilience within a geographic area.

Examples and variations: In theoretical regional studies, a locationsvillage might form around a river crossing or railway station, with linked settlements along a main corridor. The term is often used alongside related ideas such as clustered settlements or linear villages.

See also: rural settlement, village, hamlet, central place theory, geographic information systems.