Impacts of 1930s Redlining Practices on Urban Tree Cover Persist Today

Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service

Treesearch

Impacts of 1930s Redlining Practices on Urban Tree Cover Persist Today

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Northern Research Station USDA Forest Service

Year:

2024

Type:

Miscellaneous

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

FS

Download (PDF 10.28 MB)

Download (PDF 10.28 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/67882.pdf

Abstract

Between 1935 and 1940, the government-sponsored Home Owners’ Loan Corporation assigned grades to neighborhoods in hundreds of U.S. cities. The grades supposedly reflected real estate risk and mortgage security and were based in part on recent sales histories and a neighborhood’s proximity to various industries. Significantly, residents’ race, religion, class, and ethnicity were also considered. The system had four color classes: green (considered the best), blue, yellow, and red.

Keywords

Rooted in Research, redlining, urban forest, canopy cover, greenspace, equity

Citation

USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2024. Impacts of 1930s Redlining Practices on Urban Tree Cover Persist Today. Rooted in Research Issue 33, June 2024. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2 p.