Vol. 63, No. 1 Spring/Summer 2025 IMPACTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS SURROUNDING THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION REGION, PENNSYLVANIA (p. 1-16) Alison E. Feeney and Kelsey Hull Department of Geography and Earth Science Shippensburg University Abstract The South Mountain Conservation Region in south-central Pennsylvania is a vital ecological and cultural landscape supporting environmental stewardship, outdoor recreation, and sustainable tourism. This study uses GIS-based spatial analysis to examine the distribution and economic performance of short-term rentals (STRs) in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties, with a particular focus on properties near Michaux State Forest. The findings reveal significant clustering, with 65 STRs located within one mile of the forest achieving an average daily rate (ADR) of $305 and an occupancy rate of 44%, both significantly higher than regional averages. These properties generate an average annual revenue of $21,532, reflecting the growing demand for premium, nature-based accommodations. While STRs contribute to local economic growth, they also raise concerns about infrastructure strain, resource use, and housing affordability. This research provides a framework for assessing STR impacts in rural conservation areas, offering insights to guide sustainable tourism policies. ANALYZING THE 2024 SPATIAL PATTERNS IN VOTING BEHAVIOR FOR COMPETING ABORTION MEASURES IN NEBRASKA (p. 17-30) H. Jason Combs Miller & Associates Paul R. Burger Department of Geography University of Nebraska-Kearney Abstract This study begins by examining recent national voting trends related to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), further examines Nebraska’s abortion debate over the last few decades, and then focuses on the state’s vote patterns revealed during the 2024 election cycle. In 2024, Nebraska had two competing ballot measures that addressed abortion, passing Initiative 434 that essentially maintains current restrictions. Spatial analysis for this article focuses on Initiative 434 along with Nebraska’s vote patterns for President Donald Trump-R and Senator Pete Ricketts-R. Factor analysis—a data reduction technique—demonstrates that there is not only a strong rural-urban divide but vote patterns also reveal sharp divisions based on demographics, such as, age, employment, ethnicity, income, and population density. Not only did the state see a distinct rural-urban split for Initiative 434 but a similar pattern appeared for both President Donald Trump-R and Senator Pete Ricketts-R as both carried 91 Nebraska counties losing only Douglas and Lancaster. While many states currently have no abortion restrictions or allow the procedure latter in pregnancy, Nebraska remains one of the states that limits abortion twelve weeks after conception. GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF CANCER MORTALITY IN BERKS COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES (p. 31-44) Robert C. Ziegenfus Department of Geography Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Abstract Cancer deaths for all the municipalities in Berks County were obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. These data were used to calculate age-adjusted mortality rates for all cancers, male and female cancers, and lung cancer for two time periods: 2004-2013 and 2014-2023. The highest age-adjusted rates occurred in boroughs, while low rates were more common in townships. Male and female rates were correlated at statistically significant levels, with the female rates lower than the male rates. Lung cancer rates mirrored those of all cancers, although several small towns with high rates for all cancers had low rates. A Mann-Whitney test confirmed that boroughs had statistically higher rates than townships. |