Exurban Change Program - EX-4

Urbanization trends in Ohio: 
tracking Ohio's urban growth and land use change

Prepared by:
Elena Irwin and Jason Reece (August 2002)

REPORT SUMMARY 

Ohio is among the most urban and fastest urbanizing states in the nation.  In 1997, Ohio ranked seventh among all states in total acres of developed land and ranked among the top ten fastest urbanizing states between 1992 and 1997.  Despite fast rates of urbanization in the 1990's, Ohio witnessed only modest gains in population during this same time period. These trends have led to an increased amount of low-density development, an increase in exurban areas of the state, and a substantial loss of rural land. 

Urbanization rates are much more closely tied to rates of farmland loss in and around metropolitan areas than they are in the more rural areas of the state. This suggests that urbanization is a driving force of farmland loss in and nearby metropolitan areas, but is not a major cause of farmland loss in more rural areas of the state. 

Along with the increase in low-density development in exurban areas, Ohio's metropolitan areas have become less dense over time.  Between 1992 and 1997, metropolitan areas added urban land at a rate that is more than double the rate of their population growth, leading to a deconcentration of population in Ohio's metropolitan regions.  

Overall, these trends point to a pattern of urban growth in Ohio that has become increasingly spread out and "sprawling" over time. This pattern of growth has implications for the local communities and residents.  Residents seeking lower density development and a more rural living environment benefit by being able to purchase larger lots in exurban areas, but the resulting dispersed pattern of growth increases the costs of providing community services; contributes to the spatial mismatch between the supply and demand of roads, public utilities, and other infrastructure; and hastens the loss of open space in rural areas.  Policies should incorporate these added community costs into the private costs of new development and should seek to manage growth by balancing the costs and benefits of this type of growth pattern.

NOTE: ALL FILES IN ADOBE ACROBAT (PDF) FORMAT

SUMMARY REPORT: Report summary and highlights (140 KB) 

FULL REPORT: Large file with longer download time (1.2 MB) 

TEXT ONLY VERSION OF REPORT: Easier to download and view online (456 KB)

ACCOMPANYING GRAPHICS:

Section 1: Land Use Change in Ohio

• Maps 1 and 2: Absolute Change in Urban Land 1982-1997 and Percent Change in Urban Land 1982-1997

• Maps 3 and 4: Absolute Change in Pasture Land 1982-1997 and Percent Change in Pasture Land 1982-1997

• Map 5: Absolute Change in Forest Land 1982-1997

• Figure 1: Major Land Use Changes by Type: State of Ohio (1982 to 1997)

• Figure 2: Major Ohio Land Use Changes Across Time: State of Ohio (1982 to 1997)

• Figure 3: Increase in Urban Land for Midwestern States (1992-1997)

• Figure 4: Urban Land Change (1992-1997) and Population Change (1990-2000) in the "Rust Belt"

Section 2: Urbanization Trends in Ohio, 1982-1997

• Map 6: Ohio Metropolitan Area Reference Map

• Maps 7 and 8: Loss of Agricultural Land by County (1982 to 1997) and Agricultural to Urban Land Conversion Ratio, 1982-1997

• Figure 5: Land Use Change for Metro and Non-Metro Counties (1982-1997)

• Figure 6: Percent Increase in Urban Land Inside and Outside of Ohio Metropolitan Areas (1982-1997)

• Figure 7: Change in Urban Land by Ohio Metropolitan Area (1982-1997)

• Figure 8: Percent Population Change to Percent Change in Urban Land for Ohio Metropolitan Areas (1992-1997)

Section 3: Patterns of Low Density Development in Ohio

• Map 9: Ohio's Urbanized Areas (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau)

• Map 10: Ohio's Changing Landscape (Changes in Settlement Patterns 1970-2000)

• Maps 11 and 12: Urban Land Consumption Index 1997 and Percent Change in Urban Land Consumption Index, 1982-1997

• Figure 9: Percent of Ohio Land Area by Settlement Type 1970-2000

• Figure 10: Change in Urban Consumption Index (Urban Acres of Land per Person) 1982-1997

• Figure 11: Percent Change in Urban Consumption Index (Acres of Urban Land Per Person) for Ohio Metro Areas 1982-1997

Appendix C: County Reference Map