There are following differences between the types and the formations of human settlements:
1. Physical features, social and cultural factors and safety are responsible for the types of human settlements, while its pattern is due to its shape.
2. Types of settlement is determined on the basis of distance among houses, but its pattern is determined on the basis of its shape.
3. Natural conditions and occupations etc. determine the types of settlements, while type of occupation plays an important role in their pattern.
Types of Rural – settlements: Rural settlements are divided on the basis of number of houses and distance among them.
Generally, four types of rural settlements are found:
1. Dense or clustered settlement: Dense rural settlements always develop in fertile plains, and regions having flat surface terrain and sufficient water availability. The residences are built close together and the entire village is inhabited densely.
2. Isolated or scattered settlements: The houses in this settlement have distance between another and agricultural land lies among them, so this type of settlement is called scattered settlement.
3. Mixed settlements: This is a state between dense and scattered settlements. This type of settlement is a result of rapid increase in houses due to rapid increase in number of families as well as number of people. Instead of environmental reasons, family-reasons are responsible for it.
4. Old or palli settlement: The houses of this type of settlement are built apart from one another but located in the same colony. People from different castes live in different parts of colony.
