VISION: The Future Is Becoming More Clear -- Abandon Sprawl, Intensify Use of High Speed Rail and Return to Urban Life, Like the US Was in the '20s
Can the author really be that serious?
Per
http://www.agclassroom.org/
After the Civil War 53% of America's labor force were farmers.
Total population: 38,558,371; farm population:
18,373,000 (est.); farmers 53% of labor force; Number of farms: 2,660,000; average acres: 153
Prior to WWI 32% of America's in the labor force were farmers. 1910
Total population: 91,972,266; farm population:
32,077,000 (est.); farmers 31% of labor force; Number of farms: 6,366,000; average acres: 138
After WWI 27% of America's labor force were farmers. 1920
Total population: 105,710,620; farm population:
31,614,269; farmers 27% of labor force; Number of farms: 6,454,000; average acres: 148
Before the Great Depression 21% of America's labor force were farmers. 1930
Total population: 122,775,046; farm population:
30,455,350; farmers 21% of labor force; Number of farms: 6,295,000; average acres: 157; irrigated acres: 14,633,252
Prior to WWII 18% of America's labor force were farmers. 1940
Total population: 131,820,000; farm population:
30,840,000; farmers 18% of labor force; Number of farms: 6,102,000; average acres: 175; irrigated acres: 17,942,968
After WWII 12% of America's labor force were farmers. 1950
Total population: 151,132,000; farm population:
25,058,000; farmers 12.2% of labor force; Number of farms: 5,388,000; average acres: 216; irrigated acres: 25,634,869
Today, around 2% of America's labor force are farmers. 1990 Last data from source.
Total population: 261,423,000; farm population:
2,987,552; farmers 2.6% of labor force; Number of farms: 2,143,150; average acres: 461; irrigated acres: 49,404,000
Prior to WWI through the end of WWII, the farm population remain relatively steady around 30 million as the nation's population rose from 90 Million to 151 Million.
During the 1920's between 1/4 to 1/5 of America's population lived on farms, about as far away from an urban lifestyle one can have. After WWII during the latter half of the 20th century, the farm population declined significantly from 25 million to 2 million. Today, less than 2% of America's labor force are farmers.
Where did all those farmers go? To foreign urbanize cities or more tolerable suburbs? Where would you move to if you were raised on a farm?