The rise and fall of concern about urban sprawl in the United States: an updated analysis

David P. Fan; David N. N. Bengston; Robert Potts; Edward G. Goetz

Treesearch

The rise and fall of concern about urban sprawl in the United States: an updated analysis

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David P. Fan, David N. N. Bengston, Robert Potts, Edward G. Goetz

Year:

2005

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Bengston, David N., tech. ed. Policies for managing urban growth and landscape change: a key to conservation in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-265. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 1-7

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Abstract

An indicator of public concern about urban sprawl is presented, based on computer content analysis of public discussion in the news media from 1995 through 2004. More than 50,000 news stories about sprawl were analyzed for expressions of concern. Overall concern about sprawl grew rapidly during the latter half of the 1990s. Concern about the environmental impacts of sprawl was most salient, followed by loss of farmland and traffic problems. Attention to urban sprawl began to decline in 2000 and has leveled off in recent years.

Parent Publication

Policies for managing urban growth and landscape change: a key to conservation in the 21st century

Citation

Fan, David P.; Bengston, David N.; Potts, Robert S.; Goetz, Edward G. 2005. The rise and fall of concern about urban sprawl in the United States: an updated analysis. In: Bengston, David N., tech. ed. Policies for managing urban growth and landscape change: a key to conservation in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-265. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 1-7