Digitized Honors Theses (2002-2017)

Date of Award

5-2003

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

BA

Department

Political Science

Faculty Mentor

Samuel Fisher

Abstract

Many municipalities, during the process of annexation, have attempted to determine what factors will increase the likelihood of success. Some factors may be under the control of the municipality, such as the provision of city services, while other factors, such as the demographic characteristics of the community, are beyond their control. The city of Mobile, Alabama, for example, has shown a strong interest, in the past decade, in expanding its city limits to raise revenue by adding to the tax base of the city. At the same time, in areas affected by the annexation proposals, the residents have twice voted down a proposal for their annexation. A variety of proposals were made to provide incentives for residents in areas proposed for annexation. Beginning with both scientific and more anecdotal discussions on the basis of annexation, this research assumes that a community's demographic characteristics may explain, in part, the difference between annexation success and failure. This research seeks to identify demographic characteristics associated with the success or failure of annexation attempts. Based on the analysis of the data, the characteristics associated with a model for annexation success would be: a large county population, with few voters in each annexation attempt, a high or relatively high crime area with earnings of the county primarily not from manufacturing jobs, and low unemployment rates.

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