Von Thünen Model
Learning Targets:
1. I can apply geographic models to explain the location
of economic activities and land use patterns in the
United States and the world.
2. I can identify the regions and produced commodities
of Minnesota Agriculture.
HomeWork & Reminders:
The Von ThünenModel
Created by a farmer in northern Germany
named J.H. Von Thünen in 1826 to explain the
importance of proximity to market in the choice
of crops on commercial farms.
The city is located in the middle of an
"Isolated State" which is self
sufficient and has no external
influences.
The Assumptions of this Theory
The Isolated State is surrounded by
an unoccupied wilderness.
The land of the State is completely
flat and has no rivers or
mountains to interrupt the
terrain.
The soil quality and climate are
consistent throughout the State.
Farmers in the Isolated State
transport their own goods to
market via oxcart, across land,
directly to the central city.
Therefore, there are no roads.
Farmers act to maximize profits.
From “A Model of Agricultural Land Use” (from Ken Keller)
Minecraft Ring example
What are the four rings?
Why are they located there?
Concentric Rings
There are 4 rings around the city
Dairy & intensive farming
are closest.
Why? Because fruit, milk, and other dairy
product must get to market quickly.
Remember that there were not refrigerated Oxcarts!
Concentric Rings
Timber & Firewood for Fuel
and Building Materials are
next
Why? Because it is heavy and difficult to
transport
Remember this is before
central heating and electricity
Concentric Rings
Field Crops
(like for making bread)
Why? Because grains last longer than
dairy, & are lighter than fuel, so
transportation costs are less.
Concentric Rings
Ranching
Why? Because animals can walk
themselves to be, um… butchered.
A lot has changed since the Industrial Revolution.
We have highways & railways,
so why study this model?
This model helps us understand
the balance of
land cost & transportation cost.
As one gets closer to the city,
the price of land increases.
Von Thunen in Minnesota
1. You will each receive a copy of a
MN county map
1. As you see each type of
agriculture, label it a different
color on your map. There will be
some overlap between colors!
Color 1:
olor 1: Shade in The City
he ‘market area’ for
MN (the Twin Cities
metro area)
Color 2:
Dairying &
specialty/
vegetable
farming
Color 3:
Cash Crops
Color 4:
Mixed
Farming/
livestock
Color 5:
Extensive
livestock/
cattle
ranching
Color 6:
Extensive
grain
farming
Now, try to draw circles/lines where there are
separations between each type of agriculture.
Questions: answer on the handout.
1. Compare von Thünen model of agricultural zones with the map of "World
Agriculture". Does the von Thünen model help (at least a little) to explain the
spatial distribution of agricultural regions in the United States?
1. Discuss the problems with Von Thünen’s Model. What did Von Thünen have to
assume (assumptions) in order for his model to be correct?
1. Now, look at your Minnesota map of agricultural land use. Explain how well Von
Thünen’s model works in Minnesota today.
1. Explain how well does it work in the USA today.
Von Thünen in the USA
Both of these maps use NY as the only market,
but the map on the right also considers the different climates