the importance of von Thunen theory in our appreciation of rural geography
Discuss the importance of von Thunen theory in our appreciation of rural geography
The Von Thunen model of agricultural land use was created by farmer and amateur economist J.H. Von Thunen (1783-1850) in 1826 (but it wasn 't translated into English until 1966). Von Thunen 's model was created before industrialization it mean it was created in a rural environment concept and is based on the following limiting assumptions:
The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State" which is self sufficient and has no external influences.
The Isolated State is surrounded by an unoccupied wilderness.
The land of the State is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains to interrupt the terrain.
The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the State.
Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. Therefore, there are no roads.
Farmers act to maximize profits.
In an Isolated State with the foregoing statements being true, Von Thunen hypothesized that a pattern of rings around the city would develop.
There are four rings of agricultural activity surrounding the city. Dairying and intensive farming occur in the ring closest to the city. Since vegetables, fruit, milk and other dairy products must get to market quickly, they would be produced close to the city (remember, we didn 't have refrigerated oxcarts!)
Timber and firewood would be produced for fuel and building materials in the second zone. Before industrialization (and coal power), wood was a very important fuel for heating and cooking. Wood is very heavy and difficult to transport so it is located as close to the city as possible.
The third zone consists of extensive fields crops such as grains for bread. Since grains last longer than dairy products and are much lighter than fuel, reducing transport costs, they can be located further from the city.
Ranching is located in the final ring surrounding the central
The Von Thunen model of agricultural land use was created by farmer and amateur economist J.H. Von Thunen (1783-1850) in 1826 (but it wasn 't translated into English until 1966). Von Thunen 's model was created before industrialization it mean it was created in a rural environment concept and is based on the following limiting assumptions:
The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State" which is self sufficient and has no external influences.
The Isolated State is surrounded by an unoccupied wilderness.
The land of the State is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains to interrupt the terrain.
The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the State.
Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. Therefore, there are no roads.
Farmers act to maximize profits.
In an Isolated State with the foregoing statements being true, Von Thunen hypothesized that a pattern of rings around the city would develop.
There are four rings of agricultural activity surrounding the city. Dairying and intensive farming occur in the ring closest to the city. Since vegetables, fruit, milk and other dairy products must get to market quickly, they would be produced close to the city (remember, we didn 't have refrigerated oxcarts!)
Timber and firewood would be produced for fuel and building materials in the second zone. Before industrialization (and coal power), wood was a very important fuel for heating and cooking. Wood is very heavy and difficult to transport so it is located as close to the city as possible.
The third zone consists of extensive fields crops such as grains for bread. Since grains last longer than dairy products and are much lighter than fuel, reducing transport costs, they can be located further from the city.
Ranching is located in the final ring surrounding the central
References: Atkins, PJ. 1987. The Charmed Circle: von Thunen and Agricultural Around Nineteenth Century London. Geography, Journal of rhe Geographical Association 72:313 Part 2 (April) 129-139 . Barlowe, R. C. 1958; 1986. Land Resource Economics: The Economics oj Real £sfCIte. 4th. ed. Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Chi sholm. 1962. Rural Settlement alld Land Use: All Essay ill Loea/ion.London: Hutchinson.