WSP01088

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/1/1977
• Title: Specific Problem Analysis Summary Report - 1975 National Assessment of Water and Related Land Resources - Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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seventy-three percent J IVf'd In incorporatf'd communlties.S

Because of the grester Joplin populstion center, the Newton-
Jasper County area has a higher average dellsity (85.7J than the
state '(65.2), but has failed to grow in density (84.8 in 1940 to
85.7 in 1960), as has the State of Missouri (54.7 in 1940 to 62.5
in 1960), snd the State of Kansas (22.0 in 1940 to 26.6 in 1960).9
This listing indicates the population pattern of dwindling farm
population, reduced population density of strictly rural areas,
and population density increases in the major population centers.

The Newton-Jasper County area was populated under the "Boom"
of lead and zinc mines with a peak period about 1910. Population
sagged as the ore deposits were depleted. Slow population recovery
on a more stable basis followed. Activation of Fort Crowder in
Newton County provided a smaller transient boost to local economy;
the relatively short term Rocketdyne operation followed.

Population projections have been made so that effective plan-
ning of needed water and sewer facilities may proceed. Population
projections are shown on Table 1.

Agriculture has always been an important segment of the Newton-
Jasper area economy, even through the boom days of mining activity.
Like most other areas of Missouri, the region began as an agricul-
tural area. As people moved into the region, stores, shops and
banks opened to serve the growing population's needs. The region
experienced a mining boom when lead and zinc deposits were discovered,
and thus, big business moved into the region and thrived. Joplin
became a center for manufacturing, transportation, and services.
Manufacturing now maintains a primacy in the economic growth of
Jasper and Newton Counties as it has over the years, but mining
interests support much of the region's prosperity. More and more
businesses and industries are finding the area an attractive place
to locate.

Farm size is steadily increasing with a corresponding decrease
in the number of individual farms. Mechanization of farm operations
allows more acres to be farmed per worker; this together with im-
proving technology that produces more product per acre provides a
more profitable operation per farm.

Poultry production is important to ,the economy of the area.
One egg production operation in the area' has about 180,000 laying
hens while several operations each have over 15,000 laying hens.IO

Permanency of agricultural production trends is nebulous as
production patterns are affected by open economy and by governmental
policies, but over the past ten years dairy production has decreased
end beef production has more than doubled; chicken'egg production

98