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Indicator Description
Total acreage of Boulder County in farmland and
rangeland from 1959 to 1992. A decrease in acreage generally represents
conversion of agricultural and to other uses.
Data based upon the Census of Agriculture, until
recently conducted every five years by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Current administration of the Census of Agriculture is not housed
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Why
We Are Measuring This
Agriculture has guided and shaped the history of Boulder County's
eastern communities in similar fashion to how mining influenced the
western parts. The conversion of agricultural land to other uses, while
providing such benefits of urbanization such as housing, shopping and
roads, at the same time represents certain losses. Community heritage,
open space and other recreational uses, wildlife values and aesthetics
are traded off when agricultural land is paved for development.
Total Acreage of Farmland and Rangeland,
Boulder County, by Selected Years
Data source: Colorado Department of Agriculture
What the Data Show
As of 1992 (1997 data are not yet available), 157,000
acres or roughly 30% of Boulder County could be classified as in agricultural
production (either farms or range).
The agricultural land trend in Boulder County shows
a 45% decrease in farmland and rangeland from 1959 to 1992. During the
same period state-wide, 12% of Colorado's agricultural lands were converted
to other uses. Most of the conversion of agricultural land in Boulder
County occurred prior to 1982.
The increase in agricultural land from 1974-1982 is
difficult to explain and is probably due largely to methodological flaws
in the data collection process.
Approximately 30% of Boulder County's land base
is in agricultural production.
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