Rural Land Fragmentation in Texas: 2010–2020

Abstract

Land fragmentation is a significant issue in Texas, where cattle operations rely upon a significant tract of land. This study examines the relationship of land fragmentation and sales, with other independent variables being state population growth rates, financing costs, and the real price per acre. We find that tract sizes are highly dependent upon population growth rates and financing costs. Meanwhile, the number of sales is highly dependent upon the price per acre. Both multiple regression models reveal the highly significant nature of these independent variables resulting in models with high coefficients of determination. This research’s focus on Texas provides important insights to the land fragmentation literature, which frequently examines situations outside the United States.