Total Surface Area, by Land Cover/Use, by Region and Year
Estimates presented here are based upon the latest information from the National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI is a longitudinal sample survey based upon scientific statistical principles and procedures. It is conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in cooperation with Iowa State University’s Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology. These results are based upon the 2007 NRI, which provides nationally consistent data for the 25-year period 1982–2007. Estimates here cover the contiguous 48 states. Separate estimates include Hawaii, Alaska, and the Caribbean.
Margins of error are reported for each NRI estimate and must be considered at all scales of analysis. The margin of error is used to construct the 95 percent confidence interval for the estimate. The lower bound of the interval is obtained by subtracting the margin of error from the estimate; the upper bound is obtained by adding the margin of error to the estimate. A 95 percent confidence interval means that in repeated samples from the same population, 95 percent of the time the true underlying population parameter will be contained within the lower and upper bounds of the interval.
Table 25. Total Surface Area, by Land Cover/Use, by Farm Production Region and Year, in Thousands of Acres, with Margins of Error
Region
Year
Cropland
CRP Land
Pastureland
Rangeland
Forest Land
Other Rural Land
Total Non-Federal Rural Land
Developed Land
Water Areas
Federal Land
Total Surface Area
Appalachian
1982
22,590.5 ±346.9
--
18,317.4 ±387.5
0.0 --
63,535.6 ±383.7
2,774.7 ±155.2
107,218.2 ±184.1
7,556.6 ±184.7
6,150.2 --
8,216.6 --
129,141.6 --
1987
21,188.4 ±377.2
432.4 --
17,916.3 ±382.8
0.0 --
63,509.9 ±439.7
2,777.6 ±146.8
105,824.6 ±202.0
8,676.2 ±202.9
6,176.0 --
8,464.8 --
129,141.6 --
1992
19,638.3 ±347.8
1,074.4 --
17,825.6 ±392.0
0.0 --
63,105.5 ±458.9
2,631.8 ±150.5
104,275.6 ±211.5
9,864.0 ±213.0
6,219.2 --
8,782.8 --
129,141.6 --
1997
19,167.1 ±336.5
908.3 --
17,147.9 ±354.4
0.0 --
62,684.9 ±466.8
2,635.1 ±126.3
102,543.3 ±221.2
11,568.7 ±218.3
6,244.9 --
8,784.7 --
129,141.6 --
2002
18,904.8 ±557.7
642.2 --
16,385.7 ±547.0
0.0 --
62,057.6 ±497.4
2,743.2 ±180.9
100,733.5 ±253.3
13,149.5 ±260.2
6,294.8 --
8,963.8 --
129,141.6 --
2007
18,073.4 ±558.2
669.7 --
16,478.0 ±528.5
0.0 --
61,542.5 ±581.2
2,904.6 ±271.2
99,668.2 ±321.4
14,180.9 ±326.5
6,328.7 --
8,963.8 --
129,141.6 --
Corn Belt
1982
92,236.2 ±545.4
--
25,266.9 ±483.8
129.0 ±46.3
27,577.8 ±429.2
3,987.7 ±113.5
149,197.6 ±263.7
11,052.7 ±260.6
2,668.7 --
3,373.3 --
166,292.3 --
1987
90,892.3 ±549.4
2,127.8 --
23,412.2 ±478.5
92.2 ±39.5
28,270.6 ±439.3
3,799.2 ±118.4
148,594.3 ±270.0
11,644.1 ±267.5
2,712.4 --
3,341.5 --
166,292.3 --
1992
87,710.9 ±561.6
5,130.6 --
22,490.9 ±478.2
87.5 ±39.8
28,721.9 ±427.4
3,753.6 ±120.6
147,895.4 ±283.9
12,258.8 ±283.4
2,744.0 --
3,394.1 --
166,292.3 --
1997
87,950.6 ±557.6
4,770.7 --
20,829.4 ±466.5
77.8 ±38.8
29,344.4 ±397.3
3,765.9 ±99.5
146,738.8 ±283.6
13,373.1 ±283.2
2,756.3 --
3,424.1 --
166,292.3 --
2002
87,703.4 ±623.0
4,147.8 --
20,527.1 ±617.6
77.7 ±39.3
29,762.9 ±473.0
3,716.2 ±164.2
145,935.1 ±282.9
14,108.6 ±282.3
2,820.0 --
3,428.6 --
166,292.3 --
2007
86,917.4 ±738.1
3,990.4 --
20,707.2 ±622.3
83.1 ±39.7
29,635.9 ±695.2
3,870.0 ±204.3
145,204.0 ±344.7
14,793.4 ±353.8
2,866.3 --
3,428.6 --
166,292.3 --
Delta States
1982
21,873.7 ±609.3
--
11,958.4 ±383.7
255.7 ±65.0
43,559.6 ±600.7
3,622.3 ±178.4
81,269.7 ±166.0
3,587.6 ±158.8
5,226.7 --
5,857.0 --
95,941.0 --
1987
20,876.6 ±586.7
435.1 --
11,773.1 ±364.8
251.9 ±64.4
43,742.4 ±600.4
3,670.9 ±171.1
80,750.0 ±164.5
3,851.1 ±159.2
5,377.6 --
5,962.3 --
95,941.0 --
1992
19,369.1 ±543.8
1,159.9 --
11,855.5 ±371.4
246.3 ±61.7
43,957.0 ±600.3
3,667.0 ±162.1
80,254.8 ±167.4
4,062.6 ±158.6
5,461.1 --
6,162.5 --
95,941.0 --
1997
18,571.8 ±558.6
1,168.1 --
11,497.8 ±336.0
239.8 ±64.8
44,423.1 ±570.3
3,739.3 ±168.7
79,639.9 ±189.2
4,598.5 ±174.7
5,522.0 --
6,180.6 --
95,941.0 --
2002
17,784.8 ±591.7
1,155.2 --
11,062.1 ±400.4
262.3 ±110.1
44,962.9 ±605.4
3,809.8 ±158.5
79,037.1 ±217.0
5,082.6 ±192.6
5,612.3 --
6,209.0 --
95,941.0 --
2007
17,190.7 ±614.5
1,162.9 --
10,874.9 ±540.9
258.8 ±88.4
45,229.2 ±659.1
3,815.3 ±183.9
78,531.8 ±232.0
5,484.0 ±210.5
5,716.2 --
6,209.0 --
95,941.0 --
Lake States
1982
43,778.8 ±702.5
--
10,281.8 ±354.1
0.0 --
46,457.0 ±725.8
6,377.2 ±192.0
106,894.8 ±187.2
6,529.3 ±177.2
5,514.6 --
8,340.4 --
127,279.1 --
1987
42,907.5 ±746.9
1,052.3 --
9,382.8 ±287.1
0.0 --
46,629.5 ±727.2
6,411.7 ±203.4
106,383.8 ±193.5
6,976.6 ±182.3
5,521.7 --
8,397.0 --
127,279.1 --
1992
41,104.3 ±695.8
2,736.2 --
8,847.9 ±276.4
0.0 --
46,734.3 ±738.2
6,389.0 ±199.1
105,811.7 ±200.8
7,483.5 ±189.8
5,527.6 --
8,456.3 --
127,279.1 --
1997
40,478.8 ±755.6
2,526.6 --
8,431.0 ±293.7
0.0 --
47,204.6 ±742.4
6,379.8 ±207.3
105,020.8 ±205.3
8,282.4 ±198.6
5,519.6 --
8,456.3 --
127,279.1 --
2002
39,439.9 ±695.6
2,298.7 --
8,717.9 ±405.2
0.0 --
47,616.6 ±685.1
6,316.7 ±276.2
104,389.8 ±220.5
8,891.4 ±215.7
5,542.7 --
8,455.2 --
127,279.1 --
2007
38,560.9 ±825.1
2,186.7 --
9,135.1 ±623.3
0.0 --
47,708.8 ±681.2
6,327.0 ±305.2
103,918.5 ±250.7
9,347.7 ±247.2
5,557.9 --
8,455.0 --
127,279.1 --
Mountain
1982
43,125.8 ±1,071.4
--
7,453.0 ±629.0
191,145.7 ±2,106.5
25,983.6 ±1,488.4
10,405.3 ±940.2
278,113.4 ±386.3
5,502.2 ±371.6
4,885.7 --
264,213.2 --
552,714.5 --
1987
40,240.2 ±1,038.3
3,761.8 --
7,561.2 ±591.9
189,299.4 ±2,061.2
25,843.1 ±1,516.8
10,522.7 ±938.4
277,228.4 ±432.2
6,071.5 ±415.2
5,484.3 --
263,930.3 --
552,714.5 --
1992
37,412.6 ±1,036.9
6,484.0 --
7,962.0 ±638.1
188,686.7 ±2,075.4
25,605.3 ±1,493.4
10,942.9 ±929.3
277,093.5 ±448.5
6,568.6 ±432.7
4,907.3 --
264,145.1 --
552,714.5 --
1997
37,068.7 ±1,064.9
6,327.8 --
8,322.6 ±663.0
187,677.1 ±2,223.8
25,794.0 ±1,626.0
11,157.4 ±865.4
276,347.6 ±473.5
7,227.4 ±457.4
4,921.1 --
264,218.4 --
552,714.5 --
2002
34,814.8 ±1,029.8
7,319.0 --
7,936.8 ±884.8
188,406.6 ±2,298.9
25,520.5 ±1,652.6
11,224.6 ±869.4
275,222.3 ±632.3
8,342.4 ±616.2
4,927.2 --
264,222.6 --
552,714.5 --
2007
33,023.1 ±1,325.3
7,630.9 --
8,196.7 ±1,250.3
188,861.5 ±2,462.5
25,464.9 ±1,713.1
11,204.7 ±982.7
274,381.8 ±735.4
9,165.3 ±727.8
4,944.8 --
264,222.6 --
552,714.5 --
Northeast
1982
16,736.8 ±379.6
--
8,539.6 ±201.2
0.0 --
68,179.1 ±416.2
3,637.7 ±209.2
97,093.2 ±229.5
11,109.5 ±223.1
6,574.7 --
2,605.4 --
117,382.8 --
1987
16,240.9 ±407.0
34.7 --
7,722.8 ±214.7
0.0 --
68,294.9 ±436.2
3,778.2 ±203.6
96,071.5 ±244.3
12,056.1 ±235.6
6,584.1 --
2,671.1 --
117,382.8 --
1992
15,706.0 ±405.4
204.3 --
7,051.5 ±219.5
0.0 --
68,222.1 ±471.3
3,761.0 ±192.1
94,944.9 ±251.0
13,110.3 ±242.3
6,602.7 --
2,724.9 --
117,382.8 --
1997
15,141.6 ±425.7
194.0 --
6,095.1 ±215.9
0.0 --
68,137.1 ±501.4
3,586.0 ±180.0
93,153.8 ±284.4
14,857.7 ±273.9
6,611.9 --
2,759.4 --
117,382.8 --
2002
14,332.3 ±421.7
149.7 --
6,115.2 ±271.5
0.0 --
67,898.4 ±531.1
3,493.0 ±213.9
91,988.6 ±311.9
15,972.2 ±302.5
6,636.1 --
2,785.9 --
117,382.8 --
2007
13,707.6 ±450.5
141.1 --
6,206.0 ±309.4
0.0 --
67,644.9 ±572.1
3,526.9 ±225.5
91,226.5 ±345.0
16,720.7 ±334.8
6,649.7 --
2,785.9 --
117,382.8 --
Northern Plains
1982
93,324.4 ±662.7
--
7,930.7 ±366.3
74,720.0 ±832.2
3,289.8 ±166.5
4,400.0 ±224.1
183,664.9 ±160.0
4,476.8 ±150.1
2,810.9 --
5,826.5 --
196,779.1 --
1987
93,022.9 ±655.7
2,108.7 --
7,480.8 ±324.7
73,220.9 ±818.6
3,308.5 ±163.5
4,396.1 ±212.4
183,537.9 ±160.9
4,531.1 ±151.0
2,823.9 --
5,886.2 --
196,779.1 --
1992
86,859.7 ±742.0
8,903.5 --
7,527.7 ±348.1
72,097.6 ±891.5
3,383.8 ±161.0
4,417.4 ±216.1
183,189.7 ±181.4
4,715.9 ±170.7
2,827.1 --
6,046.4 --
196,779.1 --
1997
87,669.3 ±731.4
8,580.5 --
7,185.3 ±286.3
71,592.3 ±886.2
3,384.5 ±161.9
4,466.7 ±240.1
182,878.6 ±193.9
4,942.2 ±181.4
2,913.8 --
6,044.5 --
196,779.1 --
2002
87,105.9 ±802.2
8,267.3 --
7,271.6 ±501.1
72,036.4 ±990.6
3,431.2 ±168.6
4,566.3 ±240.1
182,678.7 ±201.1
5,072.4 ±190.6
2,979.1 --
6,048.9 --
196,779.1 --
2007
85,877.8 ±1,061.8
8,916.8 --
7,555.5 ±475.0
72,103.0 ±1,215.6
3,499.7 ±225.3
4,590.9 ±234.3
182,543.7 ±217.9
5,188.2 ±204.6
2,998.6 --
6,048.6 --
196,779.1 --
Pacific
1982
22,538.5 ±725.7
--
4,680.9 ±428.9
34,750.8 ±1,296.2
40,696.5 ±945.0
5,193.2 ±646.1
107,859.9 ±390.8
6,645.4 ±389.8
4,199.9 --
89,001.3 --
207,706.5 --
1987
21,359.6 ±788.2
977.7 --
4,805.9 ±499.9
34,267.0 ±1,364.9
40,622.8 ±978.5
5,207.3 ±646.8
107,240.3 ±420.7
7,077.7 ±420.6
4,327.3 --
89,061.2 --
207,706.5 --
1992
20,578.7 ±754.4
1,736.3 --
4,469.6 ±468.4
33,614.8 ±1,326.5
40,244.1 ±952.5
5,299.3 ±642.2
105,942.8 ±455.0
7,868.6 ±456.3
4,064.4 --
89,830.7 --
207,706.5 --
1997
20,046.4 ±816.7
1,672.8 --
4,273.0 ±393.0
33,499.6 ±1,402.9
39,869.4 ±888.8
5,538.5 ±655.3
104,899.7 ±465.7
8,773.4 ±465.1
4,216.2 --
89,817.2 --
207,706.5 --
2002
19,801.9 ±860.8
1,862.9 --
3,939.6 ±372.1
33,059.7 ±1,357.0
39,799.9 ±791.3
5,697.2 ±568.0
104,161.2 ±503.4
9,488.3 ±504.0
4,234.1 --
89,822.9 --
207,706.5 --
2007
19,556.3 ±981.3
2,061.1 --
3,734.4 ±375.2
32,840.0 ±1,495.2
39,716.3 ±1,015.0
5,701.9 ±553.8
103,610.0 ±528.1
10,027.9 ±525.2
4,245.7 --
89,822.9 --
207,706.5 --
Southeast
1982
18,229.1 ±421.6
--
12,317.9 ±373.3
4,461.9 ±318.8
67,445.5 ±569.8
4,557.2 ±385.9
107,011.6 ±307.6
7,982.2 ±320.9
5,931.2 --
7,712.3 --
128,637.3 --
1987
16,464.5 ±441.8
703.2 --
12,368.1 ±396.1
4,132.8 ±330.8
67,819.7 ±571.4
4,542.0 ±387.0
106,030.3 ±326.0
8,891.8 ±341.5
5,972.7 --
7,742.5 --
128,637.3 --
1992
14,362.0 ±481.0
1,531.9 --
12,528.8 ±400.6
3,596.7 ±284.6
67,666.5 ±611.1
4,695.0 ±412.6
104,380.9 ±350.7
10,283.8 ±364.2
6,056.6 --
7,916.0 --
128,637.3 --
1997
13,065.4 ±462.1
1,499.0 --
11,983.7 ±407.9
3,285.4 ±312.8
67,455.1 ±620.0
4,853.8 ±443.3
102,142.4 ±373.6
12,451.5 ±373.3
6,101.1 --
7,942.3 --
128,637.3 --
2002
12,274.8 ±530.5
1,059.0 --
11,224.9 ±466.4
2,954.6 ±346.7
67,982.2 ±571.1
4,676.2 ±433.0
100,171.7 ±424.7
14,299.3 ±416.3
6,224.0 --
7,942.3 --
128,637.3 --
2007
11,327.4 ±652.7
1,010.3 --
10,977.3 ±772.7
2,709.3 ±360.5
67,830.9 ±685.3
4,774.6 ±490.7
98,629.8 ±540.7
15,770.6 ±515.5
6,294.6 --
7,942.3 --
128,637.3 --
Southern Plains
1982
45,113.1 ±776.8
--
24,149.7 ±551.0
112,436.4 ±959.8
16,655.1 ±329.0
2,287.8 ±188.2
200,642.1 ±220.3
6,521.8 ±222.9
4,695.3 --
3,930.8 --
215,790.0 --
1987
42,352.5 ±750.0
2,181.3 --
24,298.8 ±514.3
111,310.1 ±986.4
17,293.6 ±381.8
2,438.9 ±188.9
199,875.2 ±224.1
7,094.8 ±225.8
4,857.4 --
3,962.6 --
215,790.0 --
1992
38,699.0 ±790.6
5,132.4 --
24,459.3 ±554.7
110,586.8 ±1,010.3
17,654.3 ±401.3
2,509.7 ±196.2
199,041.5 ±256.5
7,686.2 ±260.1
5,004.1 --
4,058.2 --
215,790.0 --
1997
36,978.4 ±787.4
5,042.7 --
24,014.9 ±488.9
111,170.4 ±963.9
18,299.6 ±460.3
2,625.9 ±208.2
198,131.9 ±279.5
8,504.0 ±282.3
5,095.9 --
4,058.2 --
215,790.0 --
2002
34,937.0 ±837.5
5,088.5 --
24,602.1 ±601.2
111,411.9 ±908.7
18,224.2 ±520.7
2,688.1 ±183.8
196,951.8 ±316.5
9,624.1 ±323.2
5,155.9 --
4,058.2 --
215,790.0 --
2007
32,788.9 ±991.3
5,080.3 --
24,750.6 ±940.3
112,263.7 ±1,347.4
18,137.3 ±606.9
2,923.7 ±267.2
195,944.5 ±365.9
10,572.5 ±367.1
5,214.8 --
4,058.2 --
215,790.0 --
Notes:
• Acreages for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, water areas, Federal land, and total surface area are established through geospatial processes and administrative records; therefore, statistical margins of error are not applicable and shown as a dashed line (--).
• When the estimate is 0.0, margins of error are not applicable and shown as a dashed line (--).
• Total surface area of the contiguous United States is 1,937.7 million acres.
• CRP was not implemented until 1985.
• Cropland includes cultivated and non-cultivated cropland.
