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National Resource Inventory (NRI)

Urban land

1997 National Resources Inventory

(Revised December 2000)

The greatest land use change in Illinois has occurred through wide spread urban development. Since 1982 the state has seen over an 18 percent increase in urban land and associated transportation uses. Over 492,300 acres have been converted to developed land, with 246,500 acres being converted in the last five years alone. Urban land in Illinois has increased by an average of 49,300 acres per year since 1992.

Growth and prosperity in non-agricultural sectors of the economy have been dominant forces in the expansion of developed areas. Developed land totaled about 9 percent of the state's total surface area in 1997.

Although not considered a threat to food production in the state, urbanization and development leads to fragmentation of agricultural land and the loss of prime farmland.

Urban Land
Year of Inventory 1982 1987 1992 1997
Acres 2,688,600 2,831,700 2,934,400 3,180,900