States Ranked By Urban Sprawl

According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Center for Civic Journalism, sprawl tied with crime as one of the most pressing concerns for Americans at the local level. A quick glance at the hundreds of recent state and local ballot measures on the issue confirms the fact: Americans want to find a better way to grow.This report, "Smart Choices or Sprawling Growth: A 50-State Survey of Development," is the Sierra Club's third annual survey of sprawl. It looks at development in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Our goal is to help define what's good and what's bad and to present evidence -- and hope -- that we can change the way we grow, protect our environment and strengthen our communities in the process.