Spatial Evolution and the Influencing Factors of Rural Settlements in the Minnan Hilly Region: A Case Study of Yongchun District

Abstract

With the synergetic development of rural revitalization and new-type urbanization, rural settlements’ pattern was significant change. So it is of great significance for spatial restructuring in rural areas to analyze the spatial patterns and influencing factors of rural settlements. The evolutionary processes are revealed visually and scientifically in the hilly mountainous region, and this provides the spatial optimization on rural settlements within rural transformation development. In this study, we applied Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial statistical analysis and kernel density estimation (KDE) to analyze the spatial distribution of rural settlements. The results were shown: (1) The number of miniature rural settlements, which were fragmented, was numerous and showed a negative correlation with their scale. Rural settlements excursed toward the southeast and presented global high-value clusters. (2) Rural settlements presented spatial distribution of central high density and eastern and western low density. (3) There were distributed in the areas of below 400 m above sea level, a slope of 6–15°, and southern and southeastern aspects in Yongchun District. The socio-economic factors had both positive and negative correlations. The traffic corridor significantly impacted the spatial pattern of rural settlements, and had a clear distance attenuation effect. In addition, the government orientation also influenced the spatial pattern of rural settlements.