Headwaters Economics research and accompanying interactive map show the amount of per capita income explained by protected federal lands for each county in the non-metropolitan western U.S.
Trends & Performance
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Jobs and Higher Incomes
This report finds that the West’s popular national parks, monuments, wilderness areas and other public lands offer its growing high-tech and services industries a competitive advantage.
West Is Best Reports: News Release
News release for report that shows how the western United States is outperforming the rest of the country and the role protected federal lands in providing western states a competitive economic advantage.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Washington Jobs and Higher Incomes
This fact sheet summarizes Washington’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote New Mexico Jobs and Higher Incomes
This New Mexico fact sheet summarizes the state’s recent economic growth and the role protected public lands play in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Nevada Jobs and Higher Incomes
During the past decade Nevada and the West outperformed the nation, and the competitive advantage offered by its protected lands supported job growth and higher per-capita incomes.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Montana Jobs and Higher Incomes
Montana’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting employment creation and higher per-capita income are explored in this report.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Idaho Jobs and Higher Incomes
Helped by its high quality of life and protected public lands, Idaho’s economy and population grew rapidly in the past decade. The majority of growth coming from health care and administrative services.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Colorado Jobs and Higher Incomes
Colorado’s rate of population, employment, and real personal income growth has outpaced the nation and this fact sheet looks at the role of protected public lands in supporting jobs and higher incomes.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote California Jobs and Higher Incomes
This California report is part of a series that analyzes how and why the West is outperforming the nation, and the competitive advantage offered by its protected lands.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Arizona Jobs and Higher Incomes
This fact sheet summarizes Arizona’s recent economic growth and the role of protected public lands in supporting faster job creation and higher per-capita income.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Oregon Jobs and Higher Incomes
The great majority of Oregon’s net new jobs are from services industries, many of them high-paying. This report looks at the state’s economy and the role of protected public lands.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Wyoming Jobs and Higher Incomes
Wyoming is an economic leader and protected public lands help the state grow and diversify its economy.
West Is Best: Protected Lands Promote Utah Jobs and Higher Incomes
Utah has been a national leader in economic growth during the past decade. This report looks at the state’s economy and the role of protected public lands.
Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front
This report analyzes the Front’s land, people, and economy, how the region has changed in important ways during the past several decades, and the potential impact of the proposed Rocky Mountain Heritage Act on the Front.
Western Counties and the Recession
This study provides a number of lessons as the West slowly recovers from the recent recession about why some local economies performed better than others.
Colorado’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands
This report summarizes Colorado’s economy and the role of federal protected lands, including how the state has performed, and Colorado’s ability to attract people, investment, and businesses.
New Mexico’s Economy and the Role of Federal Protected Lands
An analysis of New Mexico’s economy and how federal protected lands impact economic performance.
Economists Urge President Obama to Protect Federal Public Lands
More than 100 economists and academics urged President Obama to create and invest in new federal protected lands such as national parks, wilderness, and monuments.
Missoula County Homes at Risk in Flood and Wildfire Areas
These two slideshows and related information use Missoula County and Western Montana to show how many homes have been built in flood and wildfire hazard areas, which are vulnerable to larger and more frequent floods and fires.