Local Geography: Changes in Wright County 1850 to the Present

1. Local Geography:Changes in Wright County 1850 to the Present Grade 8 Buffalo Community Middle School Fall 2009

3. Changes in Wright County 1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities

4. The “Big Woods”

5. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone

9. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone

10. Land increasingly devoted to residential developments

11. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone Land increasingly devoted to residential developments

13. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone Land increasingly devoted to residential developments • Technology (mechanization) has dramatically changed county agriculture

15. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone Land increasingly devoted to residential developments • Technology (mechanization) has dramatically changed county agriculture Less than 10% of residents employed in agriculture

16. 1935 1940 1945 1950 1954 1959 1964 1969 1973 1997 2002

17. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone Land increasingly devoted to residential developments • Technology (mechanization) has dramatically changed county agriculture Less than 10% of residents employed in agriculture Fewer farms than in the past

19. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • Natural environment drastically altered by human activities “Big Woods” gone Prairies gone Land increasingly devoted to residential developments • Technology (mechanization) has dramatically changed county agriculture Less than 10% of residents employed in agriculture Fewer farms than in the past, but farms are larger Less land devoted to farming than ever before

22. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • County’s agricultural products have changed over time Almost no spring wheat is grown

31. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • County’s agricultural products changed over time Almost no spring wheat is grown While dairy farming is still important it’s less so than in the past Howard Lake has the only creamery left in the county

32. Farmers have shifted to corn

33. Soybeans

34. … and Beef Cattle

35. Changes in Wright County1850 to the Present • County’s agricultural products have changed over time Almost no spring wheat is grown While dairy farming is still important it’s less so than in the past Howard Lake has the only creamery left in the county Most farmers have shifted to corn, soybeans and livestock