A settlement is a place where people live.
The functions of a settlement are the things that happen there. A settlement may have more than one function and these may change over time.
As well as a residential function, meaning that people live there, a settlement may have a number of other functions:
An industrial function means that factories are located there. These now tend to be in out-of-town locations in the outer suburbs.
A commercial function means that shopping facilities are located there. This may take the form of shopping centres, cinemas and leisure centres etc.
A service function may include schools, hospitals and libraries etc.
A tourism function will be of a particular kind, depending on the type of settlement.
An administrative function means that local government has offices there, from which it runs public service.Â