Article Figures & Data
Tables
Variable 2000 census mean Sample mean Population size 11,018 11,133 Median household income $38,765 $35,080 Percent with at least a high school degree 77% 75% 2000 census number of towns between 5,000 and 25,000 Towns with contact information Percent coverage in sampling frame Survey response Final percent response Alabama 88 74 84.1 42 56.8 Arkansas 45 40 88.9 22 55.0 Florida 321 108 33.6 53 49.1 Georgia 107 80 74.8 41 51.3 Kentucky 75 63 84.0 40 63.5 Louisiana 91 49 53.8 29 59.2 Mississippi 57 47 82.5 24 51.1 North Carolina 100 87 87.0 48 55.2 Oklahoma 54 52 96.3 24 46.2 South Carolina 70 43 61.4 33 76.7 Tennessee 79 63 79.7 35 55.6 Texas 245 190 77.6 94 49.5 Virginia 94 35 37.2 19 54.3 Total 1426 931 65.3 504 54.1 Factor Components and descriptors Independent variables Structural/demographic Education (percent high school degree or more) Income (median household income) Population size Availability of state resources Mayor’s knowledge of state forestry agency Municipal organizational structure Index, based on whether town has: a tree ordinance;
specific department and person responsible for UCF; or
specific budget for UCF.
Characteristics of mayor Value of trees to mayor (count of perceived benefits of trees the mayor cites) Importance of tree maintenance for mayor Years served as mayor Gender Challenges of maintenance Costs of planting, maintenance, liability/insurance, storm cleanup, impeding progress, lack of consensus on assigning tree value Community social capital Extent of public interest in planting and maintenance Dependent variable Basic tree maintenance Index based on whether town routinely performs pruning, mulching, removal/stump grinding, fertilizing, and planting UCF = urban and community forestry.
Tree maintenance activities routinely performed Percent Pruning 79 Mulching 58 Removal/stump grinding 47 Fertilizing 43 Major planting in last 5 years or in future 61 Municipal organizational features Percent Department for tree maintenance 81 Person for tree maintenance 59 Budget for tree maintenance 31 Tree ordinance 47 Models Variables 1 2 3 4 5 6 Structural/demographic Education 0.099 0.048 0.009 −0.030 −0.027 −0.027 Income 0.019 0.051 0.001 0.036 0.018 0.018 State resources 0.258w 0.159x 0.111y 0.107y 0.108y Municipal organization Mayor characteristics 0.450w 0.397w 0.408w 0.409w Valued by mayor 0.084z 0.084 0.085 Years served by mayor 0.081z 0.078 0.078 Gender of mayor −0.128x −0.139x −0.139x Importance of tree maintenance 0.172w 0.167w 0.170x Challenges of maintenance Costs of planting 0.061 0.061 Costs of maintenance −0.083 −0.083 Increased liability/insurance −0.052 −0.052 Cleanup after storms 0.010 0.011 Impeding progress −0.015 −0.015 Consensus on tree value −0.015 −0.016 Social capital −0.008 Intercept 1.730 1.592 1.220 1.052 1.328 1.361 R2 0.013 0.079 0.263 0.320 0.331 0.331