Community Participation in Rapidly Growing Communities in Southern Utah

Amenity-rich locations attract individuals searching for places to recreate, live, or retire. As a result, such areas, many of which are in the Western United States, experience changes related to population in-migration. Past research shows how the extensive in-migration of people with different values and perspectives can contribute to social conflict in affected communities. This study focuses on the relationship of community level indicators with community participation in a five-county rapidly growing amenity-rich area in southern Utah. The research team studied two main types of community members—seasonal and permanent residents. Differences among such residents can contribute to shifts in community social interaction and affect overall participation in community affairs. Because participation in community is a central aspect of fostering local community development, it is important to understand how these processes occur. This study found structural and interactional differences between permanent and seasonal residents. Both factors were stronger predictors of community participation for permanent compared to seasonal residents. This study adds to the literature on newcomers and long-term residents and their structural and interactional differences.