Study Reveals Immigration as Primary Cause of Urban Sprawl in Nevada

A study by NumbersUSA has confirmed that federal immigration policies, both legal and illegal, are the leading drivers of urban sprawl in the U.S., with Nevada ranking at the forefront of this issue.

The study, which analyzed federal data from 1982 to 2017, found Nevada to be the fastest-growing state in terms of population and sprawl, leading to significant losses of natural habitat and farmland, all while being the driest state in the nation. During the 35-year study period, Nevada experienced a 153 percent rate of sprawl, expanding by nearly 500 square miles or more than double the U.S. average of 61 percent.

The state population growth during this time was 237 percent, nearly twice as fast as the next highest state and six times the national growth rate of 40 percent. The NumbersUSA report attributes 39 percent of the population growth to post-1982 immigration policies.

Over 800,000 residents in 2017 were either foreign-born or the descendants of those who immigrated after 1982. According to the study, this population would not have been in Nevada but for federal immigration policies, which accounted for nearly 90 percent of national population growth.

Meanwhile, urban sprawl in Nevada has consumed farmland and wildlife habitats, raising concerns among residents. A NumbersUSA poll revealed that Nevadans strongly oppose the transformation of natural habitats for urban development. There is also opposition to local efforts by cities like Reno to focus on vertical development rather than expanding outward, a strategy designed to accommodate the growing demand for housing.

The study also suggests that the ongoing housing crisis is made worse by rapid population growth driven by immigration. According to the report, Nevadans favor reducing or limiting immigration to reduce the strain on housing, land, and resources.

The study noted that state and local governments have increased spending on education, healthcare, and housing more than they have gained in revenue due to immigration. According to reports by FAIR US, illegal immigration alone cost Nevada taxpayers $2 billion in 2023, or nearly $2,000 per household annually.

Leon Kolankiewicz, a director at NumbersUSA and the lead author of several studies on urban sprawl, commented on the unsustainable nature of exponential population growth,

“Our biggest misunderstanding is not being able to understand exponential growth because it can come on so suddenly… anything that grows exponentially is unsustainable in nature.”

As Nevada continues to face challenges related to population growth, resource sustainability, and urban development, the NumbersUSA report suggests a reevaluation of federal immigration policies as a solution to protecting natural and economic resources.