Attitudes toward accelerated urban development in low-population areas

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Growth and Change; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2257.1977.tb00633.x· OSTI ID:7088294

Lewis, W C ^[1]; Albrecht, S L

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1. Utah State Univ., Logan

The primary objective of the study reported was to measure directly the attitudes toward rapid economic development held by members of the communities being impacted. Two areas selected for the study were Caribou County, Idaho, and Beaver County, Utah, contrasts in terms of economic structure and growth. In Beaver County, the population dropped from 5,014 in 1940 to 3,800 in 1970. The median income was only 78 percent of the state average. Its populace was dependent on agriculture and transportation (railroads); these industries have declined. In Caribou County, Idaho, the increase in population and income resulted from development of phosphate deposits. Median income was 7 percent above the state level for 1970. Thus, the two areas provide a laboratory for assessing attitudes about economic development. Conclusions show that attitudes in the two west intermountain areas with significant difference in economic structure, growth, and welfare levels, are generally quite favorable toward proposals that would mean rapid economic and population growth. The attitudinal data are supportive of the growing body of research dealing with the responses of different subgroups of the American population toward environmental deterioration and economic growth. Generally, those most concerned about environmental deterioration are not economically insecure and may not need or want the increased benefits associated with industrial growth. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7088294
• Journal Information: Growth and Change; (United States), Journal Name: Growth and Change; (United States) Vol. 8:1; ISSN GRCHD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMICS
ECONOMY
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IDAHO
INCOME
INDUSTRY
LAND USE
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
POPULATIONS
PUBLIC OPINION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
URBAN AREAS
USA
UTAH