Page 16

PARTIII.- PHYSICAL RESOURCES OF MANITOWOC COUNTY
       The county's physical resources are such natural resources as land,
water1 forests, and minerals. Any information about the use of these re-
sourzes is of interest to many people including persons intending to make
their homes within the area. Utilization of the land, number and size of
farms, characteristics of the soil, and woodland and its use are all items
for
which information is presented for Manitowoc County. Data are also included
on the climate of the county.
           Number, Land Area, and Average Size of Farms, 1870-1954
                         Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
Numll
4,000
3,500
3, 000
Thou,
  ac.
375
325
275
ACr
100
85
70
FARM NUMBERS DROFPP ING
       The number of farms in Manitowoc County is becoming smaller. Mechani-
zation of farming and other technological advances have made the operation
of
larger farms more advisable.   Large scale farming operations tend to reduoe
the per unit cost of production.   In 1954 there were 3,321 farms in Manitowoc
County ranking it ninth in the state. This is the smallest number of farms
since 1860 when 809 farms were enumerated.   The peak in number of farms
oc-
culrred in Manitowoc County in 1880. After, 1880 the trend was slightly down-
ward until 1940. Since then however, there has been a sharp ranging downward
in farm numbers, according to census figures.
er                    TOTAL NUI1BER OF FAPMS
        *.1...........
                     *         I     *.
   andTO....-NII
   .................... ............... . . .. ...........    .............
.
and ' :     i    TOTAL LANDiIN FAPJ      {
                          .........................
     /-
'SAVdAE los I z OF FARR1b
  ... .... ... .. .Z. ... ........ ... .. .. ............. ...... ..., ....
..... ... . .. . i.......... .. ................ ...... ......
           :  ,,  t...... :.....
Manitowoc .County..'Wisconsin
MdWý
.7
1V40  l~bQ  1960..
,. ,,.....
1670  ILUSO &%.j  1900  1910  1,020 1930