Growth in Footprint Far Exceeded Growth in People

A new study shows that while development in the North Carolina mountains increased 568 percent between 1976 and 2006, the population only increased 48 percent. What happened?

1 minute read

August 26, 2010, 10:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Mary Newsom has the story:

"This means the development grew even more thinly spread around the area than it was in 1976. The average number of developed acres per person, known as the "development footprint" went from 0.06 in 1976 to 0.30 in 2006."

"I know unemployment in the N.C. mountains has been a severe problem. My concern is that the form of development, not the fact of the development, is destroying a precious natural treasure."

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 in The Naked City

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