Date of Award:

5-1978

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Applied Economics

Department name when degree awarded

Agricultural Economics

Committee Chair(s)

Lynn H. Davis

Committee

Lynn H. Davis

Committee

Rondo A. Christensen

Committee

John P. Workman

Committee

Terrence Glover

Abstract

Increased incomes, better transportation, and the desirability of country living all create the demand for land in the agricultural-urban fringe areas to increase. High land values, low returns on investment, and residential encroachment place farmers in a situation where continued agricultural production is difficult. As ownership transfer occurs, the use of land is often changed. This study is directed at measuring the effects of ownership transfers in rural areas of rapidly urbanizing counties on the local agricultural industries, and the effect of zoning requirements on these transfers.

The study sample consisted of land buyers recorded at the Utah State Tax Commission. Data were obtained from (1) a mail questionnaire sent to the recorded land buyers, (2) soil classification, and (3) zoning requirements.

General conclusions from the study were:

1. The average land buyer was a professional, managerial or technical middle-aged worked with an annual income of twice the average income in his area.

2. Over three-fourths of the land involved in the transfer was in agricultural use. After the transfer, one-fourth of the agricultural land changed use.

3. Area zoning requirements may have altered the development pattern and acreage bought, but no conclusive results were obtained.

The study's conclusions apply only to recorded land transfers on file at the Utah State Tax Commission for the years 1974 through 1976.

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