Building along America's Coasts. 20 Years of Building Permits, 1970-1989. Coastal Trends Series

摘要

Coastal counties are among the most heavily developed areas in the Nation. About half of all residential and non-residential construction in the United States between 1970 and 1989 occurred in coastal areas. For years the coastal environment seemed resilient to the effects of this growth. However, as population grows and coastal areas accommodate ever-increasing residential, commercial, and industrial uses, land and water resources are diminished in both quality and quantity. The report includes information for all 30 coastal states, including those bordering the Great Lakes, and the 451 coastal counties and 1,569 non-coastal counties in these states. It includes the District of Columbia, 20 boroughs or census areas in Alaska, and 17 independent cities in Virginia and Maryland that are 'county equivalents.' In Alaska, the boroughs and census areas shown reflect the state's municipalities prior to the formation of the Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Denali, Lake and Peninsula, and Northwest Arctic census areas or boroughs.