CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPENDITURES OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE POTHOLES AND PRAIRIE BIRDING FESTIVAL

North Dakotans are well aware of the abundance of the state's natural resources. Fishing and hunting are part of the culture of North Dakota, and more recently nature-based tourism has grown in popularity. National surveys illustrate growth trends in nature tourism, soft adventure, and heritage and historical tours. Several studies identify birders as a substantial source of economic activity in other parts of the country; these estimates, however, may not accurately reflect conditions in North Dakota. While anecdotal evidence suggests that nature-based tourism has economic development potential in North Dakota, little research exists describing the characteristics or expenditures of visitors participating in nature-based tourism activities in North Dakota. Accordingly, the objective of this research was to identify the basic characteristics of participants attending the 2004 Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival, estimate average expenditures per participant, and estimate the direct and secondary economic impacts of the Birding Festival on the local economy, in order to quantify the economic development potential of birding in rural North Dakota.birding, nature tourism, economic development, wildlife viewing, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

INTERFACING ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC MODELS FOR RURAL AREAS: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Selected Characteristics of Business Operators in North Dakota Agricultural Trade Centers

Agribusiness,

Outlook of North Dakota Farm Households: Results of the 1988 Longitudinal Farm Survey

Agricultural Finance, Farm Management,

DEVELOPING THE NATURE-BASED TOURISM SECTOR IN SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA

The purpose of this study was to: 1) identify opportunities for expanding the tourism sector in southwestern North Dakota, 2) identify challenges and obstacles facing the area's tourism businesses, and 3) frame key issues and outline potential options for area decision makers (the primary clientele for the study). The findings reveal some basic characteristics of businesses in the region's tourism sector, identify some of the key constraints to expansion and development, and identify respondents' perceptions of opportunities for growth and expansion.nature-based tourism, agritourism, North Dakota, economic development, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Economic Effects of the 1988 Drought in North Dakota: A 1989 Update of the Financial Conditions of Farm and Ranch Operators

Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Impact of the Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile System Construction on Northeastern North Dakota

Federal defense projects have let to rapid population changes in many communities. These communities often have experienced rapid growth during the construction and installation phase, followed by a population decrease when the project became operational and labor requirements declined. Large industrial construction projects (e.g., construction of coal conversion plants) may confront other communities with similar adjustment problems.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Selected Financial and Other Socioeconomic Characteristics of North Dakota Farm and Ranch Operators

Farm Management,

Selected Socioeconomic Characteristics of North Dakota Community Residents

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Families Displaced from Farming in North Dakota: Characteristics and Adjustment Experiences

Agricultural Finance, Labor and Human Capital,