1/ Thread time!
It's time to learn about America.
From sea to shining sea, how does America use its land?
The 48 states in the continental US are a 1.9 billion-acre jigsaw puzzle of cities, farms, forests, and pastures.
🇺🇸
It's time to learn about America.
From sea to shining sea, how does America use its land?
The 48 states in the continental US are a 1.9 billion-acre jigsaw puzzle of cities, farms, forests, and pastures.
🇺🇸
2/ Gathered together, cropland would take up more than a fifth of the 48 contiguous states.
Pasture and rangeland would cover most of the Western U.S., and all of the country’s cities and towns would fit neatly in the Northeast.
Pasture and rangeland would cover most of the Western U.S., and all of the country’s cities and towns would fit neatly in the Northeast.
3/ Urban areas make up just 3.6 percent of the total size of the 48 contiguous states.
But ~80% of Americans live, work and play in urban areas.
The 10 most productive metropolitan areas alone contributed to about 40 percent of U.S. GDP in 2016.
But ~80% of Americans live, work and play in urban areas.
The 10 most productive metropolitan areas alone contributed to about 40 percent of U.S. GDP in 2016.
4/ The U.S. is becoming more urban—at an average rate of about 1 million additional acres a year.
That’s the equivalent of adding new urban area the size of Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix COMBINED.
U.S. urban areas have more than QUADRUPLED since 1945.
That’s the equivalent of adding new urban area the size of Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix COMBINED.
U.S. urban areas have more than QUADRUPLED since 1945.
5/ More than 100 million acres of special-use areas are park and wilderness areas, where most commercial activities, such as logging, mining, and grazing are excluded.
6/ Agricultural land takes up about a fifth of the country.
Yet the actual land area used to grow the food Americans eat is much smaller—only about the size of Indiana, Illinois and half of Iowa combined.
More than 1/3rd of the entire corn crop is devoted to ethanol production.
Yet the actual land area used to grow the food Americans eat is much smaller—only about the size of Indiana, Illinois and half of Iowa combined.
More than 1/3rd of the entire corn crop is devoted to ethanol production.
7/ While the U.S. benefits from an overall agricultural trade surplus, Americans imported 15 percent of their food and beverage products in 2016.
More than 30 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables Americans consume come from other countries, predominantly Mexico and Canada.
More than 30 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables Americans consume come from other countries, predominantly Mexico and Canada.
8/ More than one-third of U.S. land is used for pasture—by far the largest land-use type in the contiguous 48 states.
Nearly 25 percent of that land is administered by the federal government, with most occurring in the West.
Cows are the major major occupant on all this land.
Nearly 25 percent of that land is administered by the federal government, with most occurring in the West.
Cows are the major major occupant on all this land.
9/ According to the U.S. Forest Service, timber harvests typically occur on about 11 million acres each year.
But because of regrowth, the volume of U.S. timber stock grew by about 1% annually from 2007 to 2012.
But because of regrowth, the volume of U.S. timber stock grew by about 1% annually from 2007 to 2012.
10/ On a % basis, urban creep outpaces growth in all other land-use categories
Another growth area: land owned by wealthy families
Since '08 the amount of land owned by the 100 largest private landowners has grown from 28 million acres to 40 million, an area larger than Florida
Another growth area: land owned by wealthy families
Since '08 the amount of land owned by the 100 largest private landowners has grown from 28 million acres to 40 million, an area larger than Florida
Source: All information is from this excellent article in @business.
Quotes pulled directly from the article.
Simple storytelling and beautiful graphics 👏bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-…
Quotes pulled directly from the article.
Simple storytelling and beautiful graphics 👏bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-…
