INTERRELATIONSHIP OF LAND USES 

 IN RURAL MASSACHUSETTS 



By David Rozman,i Research Professor in Economics 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introduction 2 



Sources of information 3 



Trend of land utilization in Mass S 



Land in farms 5 



Improved land 5 



Land suitability 8 



Factors affecting agricultural land utiliza- 

 tion 12 



Climate 13 



Erosion and deterioration of soil 13 



Non-resident ownership of land 15 



Disappearance of local industries 15 



Land values 16 



Value of buildings 18 



Farm taxation 20 



Residential land uses 21 



Part-time farming 24 



Recreational land uses 25 



Water supply areas 27 



Page 



Airports and flying fields 27 



Military camps and areas for defense 



activities 27 



Highways 27 



Woodland 27 



The industrial factor 29 



Town groupings on the basis of major fac- 

 tors in land utilization 30 



Land suitability 31 



Proportion of improved land 34 



Density of cows and poultry 34 



Proportion of total area in woodland ... 35 



Density of population 35 



Industrial employment 36 



Land values 37 



Types of communities and the problems 

 arising from their patterns of land 



utilization 42 



Summary and conclusions 48 



INTRODUCTION 



Until very recently, studies in land utilization with their conclusions and rec- 

 ommendations were often of only remote or academic significance as far as bring- 

 ing about any changes was concerned. The most eflfective legislative measures 

 were undertaken in the field of conservation where, through public purchase or 

 governmental regulation, it was possible to provide for better care of certain rural 

 land areas. As for the bulk of agricultural land resources, the matter was left 

 primarily to various educational measures where action was very slow and in 

 most cases rather uncertain. 



This condition has been radically changed with legislative recognition of various 

 action agencies dealing with the most important phases of agricultural activities 

 in rural areas. The range of situations affected by the newly created or existing 

 agencies, considerably reinforced, extends from the conservation and improve- 

 ment of soil to the whole range of human relationships involving ownership, 

 tenancy, land settlement, and other similar factors affecting the life of individuals 

 and the character of the community. Moreover, with the organization of agri- 

 cultural land-use planning committees on a town, couuty and state basis, the 

 whole matter of land-use relationships has been put on a realistic basis with the 

 possibility of effecting needed readjustments in cooperation with governmental 

 action agencies. Under these conditions a greater opportunity is offered to the 

 research worker to make immediate and direct application of the results of his 

 study. 



In the light of existing opportunities in the field of land utilization, it seems that 

 two lines of research are of special significance. One is concerned with the clear 

 presentation of the important factors entering into the picture of land uiilization^ 



*The author wishes to acknowledge the contribution made by Ruth E. Sherburne and Gilbert 

 Simpson of the Massachusetts State College in the work of classifying land areas as presented in 

 this study. 



