JiSMART2021—022: Study on the Structure System of Town Settlements Central Place in Enshi Region, Hubei Province

Abstract

The spatial distribution characteristics of town settlements are an important basis for regional urban system planning. Enshi is located in the remote Wuling Mountain area which is the only minority autonomous prefecture in Hubei Province. On the basis of Walter Christelle’s theory of center place, this paper constructs the distribution system of town settlements in Enshi, and analyzes the formation process of settlement center place. It is found that the landform of Enshi area plays a decisive role in the distribution of cities and towns, the relatively closed socioeconomic and administrative leading resource allocation is critical to urban development, and the minority culture has some inhibition effect on the urbanization development. The research shows that despite Enshi is a complex mountainous area, its town layout still has a complete central place system. Meanwhile, the study will extend and supplement the central place theory.