Land Use Transition and City Desirability: Case Study of Cache County Over Two Decades

This study analyzes two decades of land use changes in Cache County, Utah, focusing on the shift from agricultural land to urban areas using publicly available National Land Cover database, demographic and parcel datasets. Through GIS-based change detection, raster image analysis and integration of population and employment statistics, we reveal varying urbanization insights across selected municipalities. We introduced a development index, combining land transition, population growth and employment prospects, to assess the desirability of cities. Results highlight that housing demand from population increase does not hold a direct linear relationship to farmland conversion and supports urban densification. Smithfield was identified as the regional development hotspot in Cache County. The study highlights the need for proactive land use planning to balance growth with farmland preservation and demonstrates a replicable GIS-based approach for monitoring urbanization. Our findings offer valuable insights for regional urban planners and policymakers aiming for sustainable growth and informed land use decisions.