© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Hierarchy of services and settlements1. Nesting (one inside another)

◦ Market areas = series of hexagons of various sizes

2. Rank-size distribution of settlements◦ Rank-Size Rule – ranking settlements produce a

regular pattern/hierarchy (4th largest city is ¼ size of the largest)

◦ Primate city rule – largest settlement has more than twice as many people as 2nd ranking settlement Primate cities – country’s largest city

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Following Rank-Size Rule◦ If your nation follows it, it is an

indication of a wealthy/healthy society Primate City Rule (not following

rank-size rule)◦ It means that the society cannot pay

for a full range of services