Natural Amenities and Population Growth in the Greater Yellowstone Region

Abstract

Much of the recent growth in population, jobs and income in the Greater Yellowstone Region, as well as other parts of the rural West, has been driven by ecological and social amenities, in contrast to the historical dependence on resource extractive industries and agriculture. This shift has been fueled by an increase in service occupations, retirement and investment income. Using the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and the Greater Yellowstone Region as examples, statistical tests were conducted to test the relative influence of ecological, amenity, social and economic variables on rural population growth. The results indicate that ecological and amenity variables are necessary conditions for growth, but they are not sufficient. An educated workforce and access to larger markets via air travel are also important.