Country Ain't Country No More: A Typology of the Nation's Fast-Growing Peripheral Counties

This study uses data on the fast-growing peripheral counties located in the 50 largest metropolitan areas to test the null hypothesis that counties located on the metropolitan fringe are demographically homogenous. Using multivariate analysis, the analysis statistically identifies distinct groups of counties in the metropolitan fringe. In contrast to much of the standard literature, the research rejects the null hypothesis and suggests that more than one exurbia exists. This study also explores the varying pressures and demands faced by the different exurban county types in response to massive and compounding growth stresses, recognizing the complexity of managing growth in the fringe and the implications for planners. It is expected that counties identified as "similar" will experience common-responses to different programs and policies addressing growth pressures. Similar counties should therefore use these results to facilitate information exchange concerning successful or unsuccessful strategies.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Urban Affairs and Planning

Department dc:contributor.department

Urban Affairs and Planning

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Gough, Meghan Zimmerman

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Lang, Robert E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Sanchez, Thomas W.
• Koebel, C. Theodore

• planning policy
• suburban fringe
• exurbia
• growth management
• metropolitan growth

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-07032003-180310

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33877