John A. Cross

Megacities and small towns: different perspectives on hazard vulnerability

Abstract The vulnerability of megacities to hazards was highlighted during the recent International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, yet in many respects residents of small cities and rural communities are more vulnerable to disasters. Small cities and towns, deprived of the political and economic influence of megacities, lack the potential to suffer catastrophic losses that would seriously impact the global economy. Megacities, however, have greater disaster resilience. Hazard vulnerability of communities, ranging from small towns to megacities, can best be viewed as the summation of a continuum of conditions that define physical and social exposure, disaster resilience, pre-event mitigation or preparedness, and postevent response. Megacities have large populations at risk, but have the greatest resources to deal with hazards and disasters. Small communities have far smaller populations at risk, but often far higher proportions of their populations can be vulnerable. The impacts of many disasters c...

RESTRUCTURING AMERICA'S DAIRY FARMS*

As the number of American dairy farms rapidly declines, the character and spatial distribution of the remaining farms is undergoing fundamental change. Concentrating on an examination of both the smallest commercial farms (with 10–49 cows) and the largest dairy operations (with at least 500 cows), this study shows that megadairies are spreading from California into Idaho and Americas traditional dairy belt, while Amish farmers are growing in prominence among those milking fewer than fifty cows. Although the greatest proportional declines in dairy farms have been among the smaller operations, average farm size throughout much of the nation remains well below 100 cows. Within a decade Amish farmers may operate one‐fifth of the nations dairy farms as they expand across the traditional dairy belt, and 500‐cow dairies in the Midwest will outnumber those in California.

Expansion of Amish Dairy Fanning in Wisconsin

Amish farmers now manage over 5% of Wisconsins dairy herds. In contrast with the steady declines in the total number of dairy farmers, the number of Amish dairymen in Wisconsin has increased by 80% since 1989. Drawing upon Dairy Producer License data, a recently published Amish directory, and surveys of local agricultural officials and Amish ministers, this paper examines the current status and distribution of Amish dairy farming in Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. The changes in the dairy farm landscape resulting from the rapid expansion of the Amish, which are most conspicuous near cheese factories that accept milk in cans, are also described.

Disaster devastation of US communities: long-term demographic consequences

This paper describes demographic changes resulting from devastating natural disasters in which at least half of the communitys structures suffered major damage or total destruction. Considering 92 US communities that suffered disasters (mainly from hurricanes, river flooding, and tornadoes) between 1992 and 2008, locations that were already experiencing declining populations before their disaster were most likely to experience large post-disaster population losses. Communities suffering severe flooding were most likely to lose over a third of their population. Population movement typically occurred regardless of whether the community formally relocated. Small communities were particularly at risk of losing population following destruction, particularly when they lacked schools. Communities with higher home vacancy rates before their devastation were significantly more likely to experience large population declines. Wealthier communities and those located nearer metropolitan cities were most likely to retain their populations following major destruction, yet overall pre-disaster home values and median incomes in the communities were well below national averages. Race and Hispanic population were not significantly related to post-disaster population change in the overall study.

Continuity and Change: Amish Dairy Farming in Wisconsin over the Past Decade

Changes in Amish dairy farming in Wisconsin over the past decade are seen in their growing numbers, the increased percentage of dairy farms that are Amish operated in the state, and the decreased share of the Amish population that is engaged in dairying. Use of technology in the Amish barn and fields represents both continuity and change. Among those Amish dairy farmers who utilize ten‐gallon milk cans to store and ship their milk, little change in use of modern technology has occurred, and their herds remain small. Among those Amish dairymen who have adopted bulk tanks for their milk, many have embraced a variety of additional technologies, including milking machines. These dairymen have increased their use of technology over the past decade, their herd sizes have increased, and they are more reliant upon milk sales for their income than Amish dairy farmers producing can milk. Keywords: agriculture, Amish, dairy farms, Wisconsin.

Amish Surnames, Settlement Patterns, and Migration

Abstract Distinctive surnames typically associated with Amish populations provide a useful means to identify group members. Utilizing listings of Wisconsins licensed dairy producers between 1989 and 2001, growth and decline of various settlements of Amish dairymen are mapped and described. Overall, growth far exceeded decline, with the number of identified Amish surnamed dairy farmers increasing by nearly three-quarters. The examination of the spatial distribution of specific Amish surnames demonstrates the central role played by family groups in Amish settlement and migration. The prominence of several common Amish surnames differs among the states largest Amish settlements, and Amish surnames new to Wisconsin are disproportionately found within recently established Amish settlements. Some of these surnames are only found in single communities.

Hazards courses in North American geography programs

Natural hazards courses are now taught in over forty percent of the geography departments of North American colleges and universities. Tremendous variation in course content and orientation exists, with lower level hazards courses typically emphasizing physical manifestations of hazards, while upper level and graduate courses are more likely to study human aspects of hazards, including various models of human responses to them. Course instructors whose doctoral dissertations dealt with hazards are significantly more likely to describe in detail, the human responses to hazards and to mention various hazard models and paradigms in their teaching. Given the content of many courses, concerns are raised about whether students are appropriately taught about the interaction of physical and human systems that create hazards.

NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTER INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET

Abstract This article describes various materials on the World Wide Web that can be effectively utilized in courses on natural hazards and physical geography. Specific Internet addresses are provided for teachers who wish to access various hazard warnings, satellite images, hazard vulnerability maps, reports, and other data concerning geophysical, hydrologic, and meteorological hazards. Suggested strategies for classroom use of this information are also provided. References are made to previous articles in the Journal of Geography that can provide guidance for teachers using the abundant hazards data accessible via the Internet.

Natural Hazards within the West Indies

Abstract Earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, together with high population densities and poverty, make the West Indies one of the most vulnerable areas to natural hazards in the world. This paper summarizes the effects and consequences of historic natural disasters within the region and reviews the causes and distribution of these three natural hazards. Suggestions are provided for teachers wishing to utilize information about Columbus or Caribbean geography to introduce their students to a wide array of geographic concepts and questions in physical, environmental, historical, and social geography.

Dutch, Belgian, and Luxemburger Landscapes: Ethnicity from the Low Countries

While the Dutch founded the nation’s largest city, the visible Dutch landscape in New York today is highly muted. Although the role of the Dutch colonization—which included individuals from what is today’s Belgium—in southern New York State is described, persons of Dutch ancestry account for little of the population of that region today, even though Dutch colonial style barns and churches remain. Much of this chapter is devoted to an examination of the ethnic landscapes around 19th Century settlements of Dutch, Belgians, and Luxembourgers within rural Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa, where persons of these ancestries comprise much larger proportions of the population.