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• 1. [Article] Retirement-age migration to and from Oregon : who is still on the Oregon Trail?

  Oregon, much like the nation, has historically had a paradoxical relationship to migration. Oregon is famous for the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Oregon Trail. It is, and always has been, greatly ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Retirement-age migration to and from Oregon : who is still on the Oregon Trail? Author: Gagnier, Cliff R. Oregon, much like the nation, has historically had a paradoxical relationship to migration. Oregon is famous for the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Oregon Trail. It is, and always has been, greatly affected and inspired by interstate migration yet each successive generation has been less than welcoming to further migration. Today, Oregon is a desirable destination for retirement-aged migrants for its scenic beauty and mild seasons. This essay will use census data from 2000 to describe the characteristics associated with retirement-age migrants to Oregon. Multinomial logistic regression analysis is used to compare retirement-aged Oregon in-migrants with Oregon non-movers, Oregon out-migrants and non-movers and out-migrants of the states from which in-migrants to Oregon originated. In three cases, the characteristics effecting the decision to migrate are determined by comparing a migrant group population with its respective non-mover population. This essay is a useful tool for those seeking to understand the characteristics important to retirement-age migration to Oregon as well as the factors influencing the migration decision. Title: Retirement-age migration to and from Oregon : who is still on the Oregon Trail? Author: Gagnier, Cliff R. Oregon, much like the nation, has historically had a paradoxical relationship to migration. Oregon is famous for the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Oregon Trail. It is, and always has been, greatly affected and inspired by interstate migration yet each successive generation has been less than welcoming to further migration. Today, Oregon is a desirable destination for retirement-aged migrants for its scenic beauty and mild seasons. This essay will use census data from 2000 to describe the characteristics associated with retirement-age migrants to Oregon. Multinomial logistic regression analysis is used to compare retirement-aged Oregon in-migrants with Oregon non-movers, Oregon out-migrants and non-movers and out-migrants of the states from which in-migrants to Oregon originated. In three cases, the characteristics effecting the decision to migrate are determined by comparing a migrant group population with its respective non-mover population. This essay is a useful tool for those seeking to understand the characteristics important to retirement-age migration to Oregon as well as the factors influencing the migration decision. Close

• 2. [Article] Essays on the interactions between land use, natural amenity and wildfire risk

  It is essential to study the relationship between environmental features and human land-use activities that can provide a better understanding of human-environment interactions. In a response, this dissertation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Essays on the interactions between land use, natural amenity and wildfire risk Author: Xu, Wenchao It is essential to study the relationship between environmental features and human land-use activities that can provide a better understanding of human-environment interactions. In a response, this dissertation addresses the human-environment issues from different perspectives in three essays. The first essay conducts an integrated analysis to investigate the impacts of human activities and environmental features on wildfire occurrence at the Wildland-Urban Interface in a changing climate. We focus on the impacts of land use changes as measured by their density, connectivity, and mix. The conceptual model builds on a theoretical framework developed by Woodward (1987) and Neilson (1995) that characterizes the functioning mechanism of ecosystems. The empirical models identify the key factors that influence wildfires. Hypotheses are tested to demonstrate the spatial heterogeneity of human land-use impacts on wildfires. Results can inform the design of policies that aim to identify community vulnerabilities, reduce wildfire uncertainties, strengthen firewise community development, and inform future land-use decision making in response to wildfire threats. The second essay analyzes the impacts of wildfire risk on urban development. It builds on and expands the monocentric-city framework developed by Wu (2006) and Wu (2010) by introducing wildfire risk into this model. We calibrate the model and examine the urban spatial profiles changes under different assumptions of wildfire risks and natural amenities. We find that wildfire risk can take on various aspects of urban spatial profiles at a much broad scale that go beyond the fire-prone areas and affects both households and public decision sectors. Even without inconsistency in fire-zone designation policy, over-development can occur in fire-hazardous area. The third essay models the role of amenity in interregional migration and spatial distribution of economic activities. Extending the new economic geography model of Helpman (1998) by including locational amenities, we present a multi-market equilibrium framework that includes consumption, production, and trade. Results suggest that the effects of amenities are significantly affected by household preferences, trade barriers, and other regional economic characteristics. This study contributes to the amenity-driven migration literatures and informs the debate about the effect of amenities on interregional migrations and regional economic development. Title: Essays on the interactions between land use, natural amenity and wildfire risk Author: Xu, Wenchao It is essential to study the relationship between environmental features and human land-use activities that can provide a better understanding of human-environment interactions. In a response, this dissertation addresses the human-environment issues from different perspectives in three essays. The first essay conducts an integrated analysis to investigate the impacts of human activities and environmental features on wildfire occurrence at the Wildland-Urban Interface in a changing climate. We focus on the impacts of land use changes as measured by their density, connectivity, and mix. The conceptual model builds on a theoretical framework developed by Woodward (1987) and Neilson (1995) that characterizes the functioning mechanism of ecosystems. The empirical models identify the key factors that influence wildfires. Hypotheses are tested to demonstrate the spatial heterogeneity of human land-use impacts on wildfires. Results can inform the design of policies that aim to identify community vulnerabilities, reduce wildfire uncertainties, strengthen firewise community development, and inform future land-use decision making in response to wildfire threats. The second essay analyzes the impacts of wildfire risk on urban development. It builds on and expands the monocentric-city framework developed by Wu (2006) and Wu (2010) by introducing wildfire risk into this model. We calibrate the model and examine the urban spatial profiles changes under different assumptions of wildfire risks and natural amenities. We find that wildfire risk can take on various aspects of urban spatial profiles at a much broad scale that go beyond the fire-prone areas and affects both households and public decision sectors. Even without inconsistency in fire-zone designation policy, over-development can occur in fire-hazardous area. The third essay models the role of amenity in interregional migration and spatial distribution of economic activities. Extending the new economic geography model of Helpman (1998) by including locational amenities, we present a multi-market equilibrium framework that includes consumption, production, and trade. Results suggest that the effects of amenities are significantly affected by household preferences, trade barriers, and other regional economic characteristics. This study contributes to the amenity-driven migration literatures and informs the debate about the effect of amenities on interregional migrations and regional economic development. Close

• 3. [Article] Reflexive gentrification of working lands in the American West : contesting the 'Middle Landscape'

  16 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Reflexive gentrification of working lands in the American West : contesting the 'Middle Landscape' Author: Abrams, Jesse, Bliss, John Caswell, Gosnell, Hannah Year: 2017, 2013 16 pages Title: Reflexive gentrification of working lands in the American West : contesting the 'Middle Landscape' Author: Abrams, Jesse, Bliss, John Caswell, Gosnell, Hannah Year: 2017, 2013 16 pages Close

• 4. [Article] Restructuring of land and community in the remote rural west : the case of Wallowa County, Oregon

  Since at least the 1970s, rural areas in the western United States, as elsewhere across the country and world, have been subject to social, economic, and political forces that have resulted in novel demographic ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Restructuring of land and community in the remote rural west : the case of Wallowa County, Oregon Author: Abrams, Jesse Since at least the 1970s, rural areas in the western United States, as elsewhere across the country and world, have been subject to social, economic, and political forces that have resulted in novel demographic and land tenure trends when compared to previous decades. Collectively, these processes of restructuring have created material effects in the form of diversifying patterns of land ownership, use, and economic relations and at the same time have precipitated social conflict regarding the legitimacy of various claims on rural space. In this case study, I examine in detail the manifestation of these interrelated material and symbolic dynamics within one particular community, Wallowa County, Oregon, as it experiences a wave of new rural landowners and associated changes in land access and use. I pay particular attention to the categories of "amenity-oriented" and "production-oriented" landowners, as well as year-round and seasonally-resident landowners, because these categories are situated at the center of local discourse regarding land tenure and use dynamics. Methods for this study include key informant interviews with 70 individuals, a mail-administered survey of 209 Wallowa County landowners, review of secondary data sources, and direct observation as a member of the Wallowa County community. This case study includes a land tenure and use history of Wallowa County, a review of pertinent quantitative land ownership and use data, and analyses of the symbolic (discursive), material (land use), and political dimensions of restructuring in Wallowa County. I discuss ways in which observed patterns of land tenure and use reflect complex influences, based ultimately in class, culture, livelihood, and associated identities and environmental ideologies. I pay particular attention to the contradictory nature of narratives of land ownership, rurality, and nonhuman nature and the ways in which these affect land uses and land use politics. I close with a series of recommendations for rural communities experiencing amenity-driven property turnover. Title: Restructuring of land and community in the remote rural west : the case of Wallowa County, Oregon Author: Abrams, Jesse Since at least the 1970s, rural areas in the western United States, as elsewhere across the country and world, have been subject to social, economic, and political forces that have resulted in novel demographic and land tenure trends when compared to previous decades. Collectively, these processes of restructuring have created material effects in the form of diversifying patterns of land ownership, use, and economic relations and at the same time have precipitated social conflict regarding the legitimacy of various claims on rural space. In this case study, I examine in detail the manifestation of these interrelated material and symbolic dynamics within one particular community, Wallowa County, Oregon, as it experiences a wave of new rural landowners and associated changes in land access and use. I pay particular attention to the categories of "amenity-oriented" and "production-oriented" landowners, as well as year-round and seasonally-resident landowners, because these categories are situated at the center of local discourse regarding land tenure and use dynamics. Methods for this study include key informant interviews with 70 individuals, a mail-administered survey of 209 Wallowa County landowners, review of secondary data sources, and direct observation as a member of the Wallowa County community. This case study includes a land tenure and use history of Wallowa County, a review of pertinent quantitative land ownership and use data, and analyses of the symbolic (discursive), material (land use), and political dimensions of restructuring in Wallowa County. I discuss ways in which observed patterns of land tenure and use reflect complex influences, based ultimately in class, culture, livelihood, and associated identities and environmental ideologies. I pay particular attention to the contradictory nature of narratives of land ownership, rurality, and nonhuman nature and the ways in which these affect land uses and land use politics. I close with a series of recommendations for rural communities experiencing amenity-driven property turnover. Close