Linear village

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In geography, a linear village, or linear settlement, ^[1] is a small to medium-sized settlement that is formed around a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal.

A linear village may have no obvious centre such as a road junction or green. The route probably predated the village and settlement grew up at some way station or feature and then grew along the transport route. Often it is only a single street with houses on either side of the road.

Later development may add side turnings and districts away from the original main street. Towns such as Southport developed in this way.

Contrast with ribbon development, which is the outward spread of a major town along transport routes.