Notes on "Die zentralen Orte in Süddeutschland" de Walter Christaller

Abstract

The objective of this article is to draw attention to two aspects of W. Christaller's Central Place Theory which have often been ignored in the extensive range of material published on this theory. The first is the series of distortions in the geometric model proposed, and which Christaller himself in fact envisaged. Some distortions are a result of variations in the physical environment, and others are due to variable socio-economic factors. The second aspect often ignored is the series of processes which Christaller considered would affect the distribution of central places, and the subsequent changes thus caused. This concept of change prevails not only at the time of formulation of the theory but also in later writings.