In few places in the country is this problem more acute than in Loudon County, Virginia. The United States has the fastest growing population of any nation in the developed world, which is exacerbating the problem of sprawl. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that U.S. population will climb from current levels of about 275 million to more than 400 million by mid-century. Some 60 percent of this increase will be a direct consequence of our current immigration policies. The ads are not meant to imply that population growth, or immigration, are the only causes of urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl is the result of many social and technological factors.
However, it is impossible to deny that immigration driven population growth is an important factor contributing to the problem. With at least another 125 million people living in this country by 2050, efforts to protect the environment, preserve natural resources and alleviate congestion will be made vastly more difficult. Furthermore, nobody disputes that immigration is the single largest factor in U.S. population growth. Therefore, it is essential that immigration policies be evaluated when we try to deal with urban sprawl. Loudon County is a prime example of the combination of factors that contribute to sprawl.