Uinta County: A Case Study in Wyoming Land Use Planning

Abstract

Many Rocky Mountain States are experiencing unprecedented conversion of agricultural land to residential use. An early 1980s oil boom in Uinta County, Wyoming, set a precedent for rapid, unmanaged growth.Recent population growth and recreation pressures in neighboring Utah have again brought growth to rural Uinta County, though at a slower rate than during the oil boom. This paper examines issues relevant to rural land use and planning in Uinta County. Data are from county focus groups and responses to a 1999 mail survey. Most respondents see growth as a problem and support preservation of environmental quality and working ranch landscapes. Rural landowners may clash with respondents, concerned with growth management, over property rights issues. Findings in Uinta County, though unique in some ways, are useful for understanding Rocky Mountain residents' preferences for rural land use and policy.