Data Sets
" "  
Link: Bypass USDA Left navigation.
Search ERS

Browse by Subject
Diet, Health & Safety
Farm Economy
Farm Practices & Management
Food & Nutrition Assistance
Food Sector
Natural Resources & Environment
Policy Topics
Research & Productivity
Rural Economy
Trade and International Markets
Also Browse By


or

""

 


 
Publications

Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond: Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land

Cover Image

Ralph E. Heimlich and William D. Anderson

Agricultural Economic Report No. (AER803) 88 pp, June 2001

Land development in the United States is following two routes: expansion of urban areas and large-lot development (greater than 1 acre per house) in rural areas. Urban expansion claimed more than 1 million acres per year between 1960 and 1990, yet is not seen as a threat to most farming, although it may reduce production of some high-value or specialty crops. The consequences of continued large-lot development may be less sanguine, since it consumes much more land per unit of housing than the typical suburb. Controlling growth and planning for it are the domains of State and local governments. The Federal Government may be able to help them in such areas as building capacity to plan and control growth, providing financial incentives for channeling growth in desirable directions, or coordinating local, regional, and State efforts.

Keywords: land development, sprawl, large-lot housing, land zoning, population growth, housing, specialty agriculture, high-value agriculture, rural amenities, smart growth

In this report ...

Chapters are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Order this report (stock #ERSAER803)

Updated date: June 30, 2001

For more information, contact: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov