Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Little attention has been paid to the unique interaction of agricultural land use, rapid population growth and urbanization that are occurring in Central Florida. This may be because much of the development is occurring in formerly rural areas previously used for agricultural purposes. Yet, the consequences of sprawling rural development include many of the same consequences experienced in established urban areas, including traffic congestion, degradation of the environment, increasing land values, and community change. This paper examines the impact of a large planned development, The Villages, on the surrounding communities. In doing so we address examine rapid growth in a formerly rural area and contribute to the literature on urban growth and community change.