Rural water systems are multiplying rapidly in North Dakota, bringing water to rural residents who previously had to haul water in by truck or trailer. The authors hope that this report will help to clarify what rural water systems are, who joins rural water systems, and general procedures of...

This study examines the socioeconomic effects of power plant construction and operation during the period 1975-1981 and also compares the actual changes in key economic and social indicators with those projected in impact studies conducted during the early stages of project development. The...

Climate, topography, and water area are highly related to rural county population change over the past 25 years. A natural amenities index, derived and discussed here, captures much of this relationship. Average 1970-96 population change in nonmetropolitan counties was I percent among counties...

Public health policies intended to reduce the incidence of smoking-related disease adversely affect thousands of tobacco farmers, manufacturers, and other businesses that produce, distribute, and sell tobacco products. This report assesses the likely impacts of declining tobacco demand, and...

This report estimates the impact that high levels of enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have had on economic trends in rural counties since the program's inception in 1985 until today. The results of a growth model and quasi-experimental control group analysis indicate no...

The hedonic valuation method (HVM) was used to quantify the impact of the threat of flooding on housing values in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota (Fargo-Moorhead). Prices of 3,783 Fargo-Moorhead homes sold between 1995 and 1998 were regressed against structural housing...

The recent expansion and proliferation of legalized casino gaming has spurred debate at all levels of government. As a result, a number of studies have attempted to quantify many of the economic, social, and fiscal impacts of legalized casino gaming. This study reviewed existing literature on...

The report discusses commercial banks' role in supporting economic development in rural America. It details demographic and economic trends in rural America. It discusses a number of economic development programs available to commercial bankers and to private sector/public sector partnerships....