**4. Results**

*4.1. Changes in the Number of Rural Settlements in Dingzhou from 1962 to 2020*

From 1962 to 2020, the total area of rural settlements in Dingzhou City showed an increasing trend (Table 1), and the area increased by 8354.97 ha. The average increases in 1962–1972, 1972–1990, 1990–2000, 2000–2010, and 2010–2020 were 0.29%, 1.17%, 1.81%, 1.26%, and 0.05%, respectively. The size of rural settlements in Dingzhou continues to expand, with the largest increase (1.81%) in 1990–2000 and the smallest increase in 2010– 2020 (0.05%).

**Table 1.** Change index of rural settlements in Dingzhou, China.


There was clear expansion in Kaiyuan Town, Mingyue Dian Town, Xicheng Qu Street, Xizhong Town, Zhoucun Town, and Ziwei Town from 1962 to 2020. These townships have expanded greatly in the past 60 years (Table 2). The area of Zhoucun Town settlements increased from 530.33 hectares in 1962 to 1225.08 hectares, for an increase of 131%. Compared to the above towns, the area of Beicheng Qu Street and Dongwang Town expanded less, with growth rates of 48.67% and 45.72%, respectively.


**Table 2.** Changes in the area of rural settlements in various townships in Dingzhou, China from 1962 to 2020 (unit: ha).

*4.2. Characteristics of the Spatial Changes of the Rural Settlements in Dingzhou City from 1962 to 2020*

4.2.1. Spatial Changes of the Rural Settlements from 1962 to 1972

Although rural settlements in various towns and towns in Dingzhou expanded, the growth rate was slow from 1962 to 1972. This was mainly because the management of rural settlements in China was very strict during this period, and there was great pressure on rural housing. The spatial distribution of changes to the scale of rural settlements in Dingzhou mainly involved expansion during this period (Figures 5 and 6). Almost all towns in Dingzhou City have expanded. The average annual growth rate of rural settlement areas in Xizhong Town is the highest, at 0.71%; the highest average annual growth rates are for Xingyi Town, Gaopeng Town and Liqin Gu Town, at 0.69%, 0.61%, and 0.53%, respectively; and the average annual growth rate of the area of rural settlements in the rest of the townships remained around 0.2%. Residential expansion was scattered during this period, with some towns expanding southeast while others expanded to the northwest.

#### 4.2.2. Spatial Change of the Rural Settlements from 1972 to 1990

After the first national work conference on rural housing construction, it was reiterated that rural housing involves a means of living, and the property rights of housing should be owned by individual members. China loosened its control over the construction of farmhouses during this period, and there was a boom in the construction of houses in the rural areas of Dingzhou City, resulting in dramatic changes in the area of rural settlements. From 1972 to 1990, the spatial distribution of rural settlement size changes in Dingzhou City mainly followed an expansion pattern and a merge pattern (Figures 5 and 6). Rural settlements in all towns in Dingzhou City experienced large-scale expansion. The area of rural settlements increased by 2743.92 ha during this period. Kaiyuan Town, Liqin Gu Town, Pangcun Town, and Xingyi Town had more obvious expansion. The average annual growth rates of the residential areas were 2.16%, 1.97%, 1.83%, and 1.84%, respectively. The expansion rate of Kaiyuan Town in this period was 5.14 times that of 1962–1972. Beicheng Qu Street, Chang'an Lu Street, Xicheng Qu Street, and Nancheng Qu Street also expanded significantly. The merger mode mainly occurred in the south of Zhuanlu Town, the north of Qingfeng Dian Town, the north of Xicheng Qu Street, and the middle of Gaopeng Town.

**Figure 6.** Change pattern of rural settlements in Dingzhou, China from 1962 to 2020. Note: NCQ: Nancheng Qu Street, BCQ: Beicheng Qu Street, XCQ: Xicheng Qu Street, CAL: Chang'an Lu Street, LZ: Liuzao Town, QFD: Qingfeng Dian Town, PC: Pangcun Town, ZL:Zhuanlu Town, MYD: Mingyue Dian Town, DND: Dingning Dian Town, DT: Dongting Town, DXZ: Daxin Zhuang Town, DW: Dongwang Town, GP: Gaopeng Town, XY: Xingyi Town, LQG: Liqin Gu Town, ZW: Ziwei Town, KY: Kaiyuan Town, DLC: Dongliu Chun Town, HTZ: Haotou Zhuang Hui Township, DLZ: Dalu Zhuang Town, XC: Xicheng Town, XZ: Xizhong Town, ZC: Zhoucun Town, YJZ: Yangjia Zhuang Town. (Figure created in Arc GIS 10.5 ESRI, https://www.esri.com (accessed on 25 December 2021)).

#### 4.2.3. Spatial Change of the Rural Settlements from 1990 to 2000

The state managed the legal use of homesteads from 1990 to 2000 and regulated for the problem of excessive land occupation due to residents building houses. In 1992, the Hebei Provincial People's Government stipulated that if rural residential land exceeded the land area limit, it should be returned within a time limit. The state also required residential construction by rural residents to conform to the village and town construction plan, so the phenomenon of arable land occupation gradually decreased. The scale of changes in spatial distribution in rural settlements in Dingzhou City involved a new retreating pattern and urbanisation pattern during this period (Figures 5 and 6). For example, some rural settlements in Kaiyuan town were vacated as farmland. The urbanisation pattern is mostly seen in areas surrounding towns. For example, some rural settlements in Chang'an Lu and Beicheng Qu Street have been transformed into urban land. The average annual growth rates of the rural residential areas in Xicheng Qu and Chang'an Lu Street were negative, at −0.45% and −0.11%, respectively. The growth rates of Zhoucun Town, Yangjia Zhuang Town, Xingyi Town, Xizhong Town, and other towns have decreased compared to the previous period. The expansion of rural settlements in the western and southwest of Dingzhou slowed during this period, the rural settlements in the central and southwest of Dingzhou did not expand significantly, and the expansion in the eastern and southeast of Dingzhou was more obvious.
