Are We Paving Paradise?

Rural open space covers about 95 percent of the land in the United States. Are we really running out of room?

1 minute read

February 1, 2004, 9:00 AM PST

"A perennial argument for smart growth and compact urban development is that we are running out of open space. But how much open space is really left?Two federal agencies provide useful data on urbanization and rural open space. The Natural Resources Conservation Service does anatural resource inventory every five years, and this inventory estimates the amount of urban and rural development. The decennial Census measures the land area of every census tract and classifies census tracts in such categories as 'urban area,' 'urban cluster,' and 'place.' Both of these data sources agree that about 95 percent of the United States remains rural open space."

Thanks to George Passantino

FULL STORY: Are We Paving Paradise?

Thursday, January 29, 2004 in Reason Public Policy Institute

Land Use United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.