Date of Graduation

Spring 2021

Degree

Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences

Department

Geography, Geology, and Planning

Committee Chair

David Perkins

Abstract

The Great River Road (GRR) is a set of scenic byways connecting the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana. This route follows both the East and West banks of the river through the heartland of the United States. Since the 1970s, the GRR has been established as a tourism corridor for both domestic and foreign travelers. The GRR’s intended purpose is to enhance local economic development through showcasing the Mississippi-regional culture and its natural environment. Chapter One analyzes data based on industry, occupation, education, and demographics to attempts to identify the economic and social boundaries of the GRR region in Missouri. Spatial representation and hot spot analysis using the Getis-Ord GI ArcGIS tool helped to determine a more concise socio-economic GRR region in the state of Missouri. Chapter Two applies finding from chapter one and applies it to the entire extent of the GRR. United States census data was used to assess the entire GRR region where data pertains to social, economic, housing, and demographic characteristics results from Chapter two help determine a socio-economic border for the GRR along the Mississippi River.

Keywords

Great River Road, Missouri, Mississippi River, ArcGIS, hot spot analysis, economic development, economic review, social review, housing review, demographic review

Subject Categories

Geographic Information Sciences | Human Geography | Spatial Science

Copyright

© Evan Arthur Telle

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Open Access

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