Settlement vs. Town — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 5, 2024
A settlement is a general term for communities where people live, whereas a town is a specific type of settlement with defined characteristics, such as governance.
Difference Between Settlement and Town
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A settlement refers to any place where people establish a community. It can range from a small group of dwellings in a rural area to large urban centers. On the other hand, a town is a specific type of settlement that is larger than a village but smaller than a city. Towns often have a structured governance system and provide more services than smaller settlements.
Settlements can be temporary or permanent and vary widely in size and complexity. They are defined primarily by the presence of inhabited structures and can include everything from nomadic tribes to sprawling metropolises. Conversely, towns are typically permanent, with established infrastructures such as roads, schools, and markets, reflecting a more organized form of settlement with specific administrative and legal frameworks.
The classification of a settlement as a town often involves legal or administrative criteria, including population size, economic activity, and the presence of governmental institutions. Towns usually serve as commercial and administrative centers for their surrounding areas, providing residents with essential services and facilities. In contrast, settlements without such criteria may not offer the same level of infrastructure or governance.
Towns play a significant role in regional development, acting as hubs that facilitate trade, education, and cultural exchange within their areas. They are often characterized by their ability to self-govern and implement local policies. Settlements, lacking these characteristics, might not have the same influence on regional growth and development, depending on their size, location, and the nature of their establishment.
While the term "settlement" encompasses a broad range of human habitation, including towns, the concept of a town is much more specific, indicating a certain level of organization, population, and functionality. This distinction is crucial for understanding the dynamics of human settlements and their impact on the landscape, economy, and society.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A community where people live; can be urban or rural.
A specific type of settlement with defined characteristics such as governance.
Size and complexity
Can vary widely, from small to large.
Typically larger than a village but smaller than a city.
Permanence
Can be temporary or permanent.
Usually permanent with established infrastructures.
Governance
May not have formal governance.
Often has structured governance and provides more services.
Role
Varies widely; can range from minimal to significant regional impact.
Acts as commercial and administrative centers for surrounding areas.
Compare with Definitions
Settlement
Can range from rural to urban areas.
The settlement had only a few houses and a small shop.
Town
Provides essential services and facilities to residents.
The town's healthcare center was renovated to serve the growing population.
Settlement
Does not necessarily have formal governance.
The remote settlement operated without any formal structure.
Town
Often serves as a regional commercial center.
Small businesses thrived in the bustling town.
Settlement
A place where people establish a community.
A small settlement sprang up around the mining area.
Town
Has established infrastructures like roads and schools.
The town council approved the construction of a new high school.
Settlement
Varies in size, from a few dwellings to large cities.
The ancient settlement grew into a bustling city.
Town
Acts as administrative centers for their areas.
The town hall hosted meetings for local governance.
Settlement
May be temporary, like campsites, or permanent.
The nomadic tribe set up a temporary settlement.
Town
A defined settlement larger than a village with governance.
The town was known for its historic market square.
Settlement
The act or process of settling
The settlement of sediment.
Town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Settlement
The settling or establishment of a person or a group of people, as in a new region or in a business.
Town
A population center that is larger than a village and smaller than a city.
Settlement
A newly colonized region.
Town
A territorial and political unit governed by a town meeting, especially in New England.
Settlement
A small community.
Town
(Informal) A city
New York is a big town.
Settlement
An arrangement or agreement reached, as in business proceedings or negotiating a dispute
A wage settlement.
A peace settlement.
Town
Chiefly British A rural village that has a market or fair periodically.
Settlement
The resolution of a lawsuit or dispute by settling.
Town
The residents of a town
The whole town was upset at the news.
Settlement
The process of reaching such an arrangement, agreement, or resolution.
Town
An area that is more densely populated or developed than the surrounding area
Going into town to shop.
Settlement
The legal determination of title to property.
Town
The residents of a community in which a university or college is located, as opposed to the students and faculty
A dispute pitting town against gown.
Settlement
The process of making the determinations and distributions associated with a trust.
Town
A group of prairie dog burrows.
Settlement
A center providing community services in an underprivileged area. Also called settlement house.
Town
A settlement; an area with residential districts, shops and amenities, and its own local government; especially one larger than a village and smaller than a city, historically enclosed by a fence or walls, with total populations ranging from several hundred to more than a hundred thousand (as of the early 21st century)
This town is really dangerous because these youngsters have Beretta handguns.
Settlement
The act of settling.
Settlement of debt
Town
Any more urbanized centre than the place of reference.
I'll be in Yonkers, then I'm driving into town to see the Knicks at the Garden tonight.
Settlement
The state of being settled.
Town
A rural settlement in which a market was held at least once a week.
Settlement
A colony that is newly established; a place or region newly settled (even in past times).
Town
The residents (as opposed to gown: the students, faculty, etc.) of a community which is the site of a university.
Settlement
A community of people living together, such as a hamlet, village, town, or city; a populated place.
Town
(colloquial) Used to refer to a town or similar entity under discussion.
Call me when you get to town.
Settlement
(archeology) A site where people used to live together in ancient times; an ancient simple kind of village.
Town
A major city, especially one where the speaker is located.
Settlement
(architecture) The gradual sinking of a building. Fractures or dislocations caused by settlement.
Town
(legal) A municipal organization, such as a corporation, defined by the laws of the entity of which it is a part.
Settlement
(finance) The delivery of goods by the seller and payment for them by the buyer, under a previously agreed trade or transaction or contract entered into.
Town
(obsolete) An enclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor; by extension, the whole of the land which constituted the domain.
Settlement
(legal) A disposition of property, or the act of granting it.
Town
A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
Settlement
(legal) A settled place of abode; residence; a right growing out of legal residence.
Town
London, especially central London.
Settlement
(legal) A resolution of a dispute.
Town
Formerly: (a) An inclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor. [Obs.] (b) The whole of the land which constituted the domain. [Obs.] (c) A collection of houses inclosed by fences or walls.
Settlement
(law) A mutual agreement to end a dispute without resorting to legal proceedings, also known as an out-of-court settlement or settling out of court.
Town
Any number or collection of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop.
Settlement
The act of setting, or the state of being settled.
Town
Any collection of houses larger than a village, and not incorporated as a city; also, loosely, any large, closely populated place, whether incorporated or not, in distinction from the country, or from rural communities.
God made the country, and man made the town.
Settlement
Establishment in life, in business, condition, etc.; ordination or installation as pastor.
Every man living has a design in his head upon wealth power, or settlement in the world.
Town
The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature; the town voted to lay a tax for repairing the highways.
Settlement
That which settles, or is settled, established, or fixed.
Town
A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a country.
Settlement
The act of peopling, or state of being peopled; act of planting, as a colony; colonization; occupation by settlers; as, the settlement of a new country.
Town
The court end of London; - commonly with the.
Settlement
Matter that subsides; settlings; sediment; lees; dregs.
Fuller's earth left a thick settlement.
Town
The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, in winter the gentleman lives in town; in summer, in the country.
Always hankering after the diversions of the town.
Stunned with his giddy larum half the town.
Settlement
The gradual sinking of a building, whether by the yielding of the ground under the foundation, or by the compression of the joints or the material.
Town
A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farmyard.
Settlement
The act or process of adjusting or determining; composure of doubts or differences; pacification; liquidation of accounts; arrangement; adjustment; as, settlement of a controversy, of accounts, etc.
Town
An urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city;
They drive through town on their way to work
Settlement
A colony newly established; a place or region newly settled; as, settlement in the West.
Town
An administrative division of a county;
The town is responsible for snow removal
Settlement
A settled place of abode; residence; a right growing out of residence; legal residence or establishment of a person in a particular parish or town, which entitles him to maintenance if a pauper, and subjects the parish or town to his support.
Town
The people living in a municipality smaller than a city;
The whole town cheered the team
Settlement
Bestowal, or giving possession, under legal sanction; the act of giving or conferring anything in a formal and permanent manner.
My flocks, my fields, my woods, my pastures take,With settlement as good as law can make.
Settlement
That which is bestowed formally and permanently; the sum secured to a person; especially, a jointure made to a woman at her marriage; also, in the United States, a sum of money or other property formerly granted to a pastor in additional to his salary.
Settlement
A disposition of property for the benefit of some person or persons, usually through the medium of trustees, and for the benefit of a wife, children, or other relatives; jointure granted to a wife, or the act of granting it.
Settlement
A body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
Settlement
A community of people smaller than a town
Settlement
A conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it
Settlement
The act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies;
The British colonization of America
Settlement
Something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making;
The finally reached a settlement with the union
They never did achieve a final resolution of their differences
He needed to grieve before he could achieve a sense of closure
Settlement
An area where a group of families live together
Settlement
Termination of a business operation by using its assets to discharge its liabilities
Common Curiosities
Can a village be considered a settlement?
Yes, a village is a type of settlement, usually smaller and less complex than a town.
What are the key features of a town?
Key features include structured governance, established infrastructure, and the provision of essential services and facilities.
What legal criteria might classify a settlement as a town?
Legal criteria can include population size, economic activity, and the presence of governmental institutions.
Is a city a type of settlement?
Yes, a city is a type of settlement, generally larger and more complex than a town, with more extensive governance and services.
Do towns always have a town hall or similar governance building?
While not always, most towns have a town hall or similar building as a center for local government and community events.
What defines a settlement?
A settlement is any place where people establish a community, ranging from rural to urban areas.
How does a town differ from other types of settlements?
A town is a specific type of settlement characterized by its size, structured governance, and provision of services, typically larger than a village but smaller than a city.
Do all settlements have formal governance systems?
No, not all settlements have formal governance systems; this varies widely depending on the type and size of the settlement.
How do settlements impact regional development?
Settlements can impact regional development through their roles as hubs for trade, education, and cultural exchange, with towns often playing a significant role.
Can the size of a settlement affect its classification as a town?
Yes, the size, along with other criteria like governance and services, can affect a settlement’s classification as a town.
Are there examples of settlements that are not towns?
Yes, examples include villages, cities, and even temporary encampments, all of which are types of settlements.
How does the infrastructure of a town compare to that of a smaller settlement?
Towns typically have more developed infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, compared to smaller settlements.
Can the term "settlement" apply to temporary communities?
Yes, the term "settlement" can apply to both temporary and permanent communities.
How do towns serve their surrounding areas?
Towns serve as commercial and administrative centers, providing essential services and acting as hubs for regional development.
Why is the distinction between settlements and towns important?
Understanding the distinction helps in recognizing the varying levels of organization, services, and governance among human communities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
