Demographic change in the 21st century: The impact on recreation participation

The population of the United Stales is becoming more diverse and growing older. Into the next century, a new demographic climate will emerge. Using data employed in the development of the current Resource Planning Assessment done by the U.S. Forest Service, this paper explores a changing American society, including racial distribution, immigration and migration, and an aging population. In some' areas, the non-white and Hispanic population has surpassed the number of non-Hispanic whites, creating a phenomenon termed a "minority majority" effect. Not only do minorities cluster in specific areas, but immigrants also tend to cluster near "port of entry" areas, such as coastal metropolitan regions. Immigrants may migrate to these areas to be involved with family networks. Other groups migrate throughout the country for different reasons. Internal migration may be related to amenities, or quality of life values, which may draw people away from metropolitan areas. Several factors such as these create differences in the ethnic and racial makeup of the nation, thus across a ''demographic" landscape. Certain areas will become more heterogeneous and some will remain homogeneous in the Future. American society will not only diversify but is also expected to age as well. More individuals will occupy older age categories, and the median age of the U.S. population as a whole is increasing. Older individuals may have unique recreation preferences compared to younger cohorts. The percentage of older persons within the jurisdictions of recreation agencies will likely increase, creating changes in preferred services and leisure opportunities. The implications of demographic changes noted above potentially have profound impacts on the use of natural resources and are discussed in the paper.