Land Utilization in Minnesota was first published in 1934. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.

This volume constitutes the final report of the Minnesota Committee on Land Utilization. Appointed in 1932 by Governor Floyd B. Olson, the committee conducted an exhaustive, two-year study of land use in northern Minnesota, paying careful attention to the repopulation of the cut-over lands.

Chaired by Lotus D. Coffman, president of the University of Minnesota, the Committee included twelve members representing different geographical locations of Minnesota. The report was prepared for publication by Professors William Anderson and Oscar B. Jesness of the University of Minnesota and Dr. Raphael Zon, director of the Lakes States Forest Experiment Station.

Topics discussed include: physical and climatic features affecting land use; social and economic effects of past land development; population trends and land use; present and possible future need for agricultural and forest lands; the use of land for recreation; water and mineral resources as related to land use; taxation as it affects land use; and local government under changed land use conditions.

In his foreword to the volume, Governor Olson remarks “The report discusses concretely the direction in which the commonwealth must move to bring our own house in order, and it lays a foundation for action by our state legislature. In my humble opinion, it is the most thorough and constructive research report outlining a land policy that has ever been brought together in this state.”

$60.00 paper ISBN 978-0-8166-7134-2
314 pages 1 b&w photo, 6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 1934