Graduation Date
Summer 2020
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Social Science, Environment and Community
Committee Chair Name
Erin Kelly
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Nick Perdue
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Sarah Ray
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Environment and Community
Abstract
This study contributes to the existing, yet small, cadre of research using photo elicitation to investigate the place meanings of people living in a natural-amenity-rich area. Ten current and former residents of Del Norte County, California took pictures of and discussed in an interview the people, places, and attributes they found valuable or meaningful about that place. The primary focus of the photos and interviews was how these natural amenities, in particular Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, impacted or influenced residents’ place meanings. Three major themes of place meaning were identified from the interviews: Environment-Landscape, Human-Social, and Recreation-Exploration. Each contained multiple sub-themes that describe why participants value different places in Del Norte.
Two important conclusions were drawn from this research. First, place meanings are multidimensional constructs, most often arising from a combination of social interactions with other people and experiences with the physical environment. Second, place meanings are mutable, and may shift over the time spent in a place or due to natural- or human-caused landscape change. Many participants described Del Norte as being on the cusp of significant positive and negative changes. They saw these changes as stemming from previously quantified increases in tourism to the county, as well as perceived future increases in permanent residents. While increasing tourism is critical to support Del Norte’s tourist economy, participants were concerned that increases in visitors and long-term populations could negatively impact the meanings they hold for Del Norte. By better understanding the place meanings of Del Norte residents’, the community and its decision-makers will be able to more effectively discuss and adapt to future changes.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Arndt, Erik, ""This is home:" pictures, place meaning, and community in the natural-amenity-rich Del Norte County, California" (2020). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 413.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/413
Included in
Nature and Society Relations Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Rural Sociology Commons