POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT GEOGRAPHY UNIT-1 In the expression ‘population geography’, the term ‘population’ signifies the subject matter and ‘geography’ refers to the perspective of investigation. Population geography implies the investigation into human covering of the earth and its various facets with reference to physical and cultural environment. According to Trewartha, population geography is concerned with the understanding of the regional differences in the earth’s covering of people (Trewartha, 1969:87) John I. Clarke, suggested that population geography is mainly concerned with demonstrating how spatial variation in population and its various attributes like composition, migration and growth are related to the spatial variation in the nature of places (Clarke, 1972:2) Wilbur Zelinsky defines it as “a science that deals with the ways in which geographic character of places is formed by and, in turn, reacts upon a set of population phenomena that vary within it through both space and time interacting one with another, and with numerous non- demographic phenomena” (Zelinsky, 1966). R.J. Proyer suggested that population geography deals with the analysis and explanation of interrelationship between population phenomena and the geographical character of places as they both vary over space and time (Proyer, 1984:25). It is, however, not to suggest that population distribution on the earth surface is determined by physical factors alone, for within the broad framework of physical attractions and constraints, cultural factors strongly influence the way mankind is distributed over the earth (Hornby and Jones, 1980:20). Thus, apart from physical factors, numerous social, demographic, economic, political and historical factors affect population distribution. Factors Affecting the Distribution of Population (1) Climate. This is an important factor for determining the spatial distribution of population. The cold regions have the lowest population density. Cold temperature may increase respiratory diseases. In the cold regions, the growing season is very short. Similarly, an extremely hot climate is harmful; it may increase intestinal diseases. High temperature may be associated with humidity; its effect on human life is deleterious. A good climate is a precondition for human settlement. Extremely dry or cold climate is not suitable for human settlement. Thus, regions having a moderate climate have a higher density of population. The materialistic civilization is a product of physical health and mental energy imparted by good climatic environment. (2) Fertility of the Soil. The quality of the soil is an important determinant of population density. Other things remaining the same, the higher the fertility of the soil, the higher the density of the population. Lateritic tropical soils are unsuitable for improved cropping practices. Alluvial soil is the best for cultivation. The Indo-Gangetic area contains this soil. Therefore, population density is very high there. (3) Availability of water. Availability of water is a pre-condition for higher density of population. Low rainfall restricts human settlement. The area of low rainfall is not helpful for agricultural development. The density of population decreases with a decrease in rainfall and increases with an increase in rainfall. However, the availability of water does not depend merely on rainfall or rivers, springs or lakes. There may be artificial means for supply of water. In the desert areas, population density is low because sufficient water is not available for survival of human beings, plants and animals. (4) Configuration of Land. On plains, population density is higher than the population density on sloppy land, mountains and hills. About three-fourths of India’s population lives in the plains. It is possible to have better farming, mobility, transport and communication, etc. in the plains than on rocky lands. In the past, civilizations developed mostly in the plains. In the hilly areas, the amount of cultivable land is small, productivity is low, cost is high and physical existence is uncomfortable. (5) Geographical Location. Favorable geographical location is a very important factor for higher density of population. Geographical location with respect to communication, trade and traffic, is an important criterion for economic expansion. The concentration of population in large cities is mainly due to the geographical factor of favored location. Transportation facilities increase ' mobility, expand trade and commerce, and minimize the difficulties of movement. With the development of a modern transport system, urban growth is concentrating in the large cities and towns. (6) Availability of Power Resources. Power resources and mineral wealth influence the concentration of population. For example, Birmingham and New Castle became great centers of human agglomeration. In India, Raniganj, Jharia, Asansol, etc, are fast developing in population because of the industries which are connected with the use of coals iron and otlier r.aw materials. Industrial centers are generally congested. In the regions known for coal, iron ore and the like, density of population becomes high. In the UK, the distribution of population is the distribution of the mining areas of the country, (7) Supporting Capacity. The means of subsistence is responsible for uneven concentration of population over the world. The higher the supporting capacity of a region, the higher is the density of population. The supporting capacity is determined by so many factors, e,g. fertility of land, productivity, natural resources and so on. Intensive agriculture can support more people than what extensive agriculture can do. The hilly tracts and deserts cannot support people. Thus, density in such areas is low. Agriculture can support more people when it is devoted to the cultivation of cereal crops rather than to the cultivation of fodder crops. The supporting capacity is also increased by the industrial and commercial pursuits. The regions where hunting, herding and other primitive occupations are prevalent, have low density of population. Technological development and development of trade and commerce are mixed together, and they influence the growth of urban centres. Technological changes can open new areas which are more helpful for human habitation, (8) Nature of Crop Cultivated. The nature of crops influences the density of population. The rice growing tracts, like Orissa, Malabar, West Bengal and the like are centers of dense population. High- yielding crops can support a high density of population. But wheat growing centres have generally low density of population, because wheat growing is suited to extensive agriculture. Rice requires far more care and laborious cultivation. The yield of rice per acre is very high as compared to the yield of other crops. Wheat with its one crop cannot support as large a population as rice can with its three possible crops a year. (9) Cultural and Non-geographical Factors. In the agricultural sector, the socio-economic outlook is in favour of large families, early marriage and staying on ancestral lands. All these factors have resulted in congestion of human population in the agricultural sectors in India, Japan and China. High child-bearing capacity is sometimes glorified for Strengthening manpower and income-earning, capacity. Ignorance of the techniques of family planning largely contributes to over-population. The government’s policy may encourage emigration/immigration, or may restrict emigration/immigration. Thus, government policy is a significant factor in the spatial distribution of people over the earth. On many occasions, government has changed the distribution within the country for various reasons, to use the resources, to improve military strength and security, or to achieve greater self-sufficiency. People having the same cultural affinity will generally settle at the same place. This will increase the density of population of that place. An improved standard of living, higher cost of education, greater social security and so on will reduce the birth rate. Political forces are sometimes very strong factors for changing the distribution of population. During the Great Leap Forward Movement in China, most of the farmers were shifted from the agricultural sector. Thus, the density of population was reduced considerably. In the matter of distribution of population, both geographical and non- geographical factors play their roles, but none of these factors is individually responsible for any change in the pattern of population distribution. In course of time, some factors loose their significance and new and complex conditions crop up which may make the problem of distribution of population acquire a state of constant flux. Density of Population and Meaning of Density The term ‘Density of Population’ refers to the number of persons per square kilometer. In other words, density of population indicates the man-land ratio. This is calculated by dividing the number of persons of a country or region by the total land area. In case the land area is small for a given population, the density will be high; but if the land area is large, then the density will be low. Density depends on many natural and human factors, such as soil, rainfall, climate, economic resources, the stage of economic growth and so on. Since these factors differ in many places, density will also differ. Density measures the degree of population concentration in a particular area. There are many