Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
In Swan Valley, Montana, there is a significant shift in demographics going on. A once strong resource extraction based economy shifted to a service, education, and construction based economy in the last 30 years. Real estate values and median age have increased significantly. A divide exists between groups perceived as the more educated newcomers and the longtime residents who feel their autonomy is shrinking. One of the many trends associated with this is amenity migration, which is the movement of people in pursuit of cultural and natural amenities. This trend and others associated with the demographic shift can have both negative and positive impacts on rural communities. What does that look like in the data though? Through the use of publicly available data collected through the Census and American Community Survey we can look quantitatively at these issues and find the fingerprint that this demographic shift has left on the community. An improved understanding of how these trends look in the data will allow better preparation for and response to them in the future.
Mentor Name
Sarah Halvorson
Shifting Demographics in Swan Valley, Montana
UC Ballroom, Pod #4
In Swan Valley, Montana, there is a significant shift in demographics going on. A once strong resource extraction based economy shifted to a service, education, and construction based economy in the last 30 years. Real estate values and median age have increased significantly. A divide exists between groups perceived as the more educated newcomers and the longtime residents who feel their autonomy is shrinking. One of the many trends associated with this is amenity migration, which is the movement of people in pursuit of cultural and natural amenities. This trend and others associated with the demographic shift can have both negative and positive impacts on rural communities. What does that look like in the data though? Through the use of publicly available data collected through the Census and American Community Survey we can look quantitatively at these issues and find the fingerprint that this demographic shift has left on the community. An improved understanding of how these trends look in the data will allow better preparation for and response to them in the future.