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acreage, which is reported differently for each of the three periods. While this makes comparisons of acreage difficult, comparisons of the percentages of the total area are provided. The data are presented in Tables 2.1 and 2.2. As shown in those tables, land uses changed from a dominance of natural uses (69.25%) in 1943 to agricultural (60.54%) in 1984. While urban use acreage increased nearly four fold from 9,936 acres in 1943 to 36,687 acres in 1984, agricultural acreage increased nearly two and a half times from 83,712 acres to 193,611 acres. Both of these developed uses expanded through the conversion of natural uses which declined from 69.25% of total acreage in 1943 (211,008 acres) to 27.99% in 1984 (89,509 acres). The period from 1943 to 1969 was one in which large scale land speculation occurred. During that time, four large developments were platted or planned. Those were Sebastian Highlands in the City of Sebastian; Vero Beach Highlands, in the south county along the St. Lucie County line; the Moorings, on the southern portion of the barrier island; and Johns Island, in the Town of Indian River Shores. Of these, only Johns Island and the Moorings were substantially built by 1984. Between 1969 and 1984, much of the growth occurred in areas which had previously been classified as urban land, but which had not been built out. From this information, several trends emerge. These, together with an examination of existing land use conditions, provide future land use planning considerations. The trends identified in the 1943 to 1984 land use comparison include the following: • By 1984, urban and agricultural uses occupied over 70% of the county land area; • Much of the expansion of urban uses was speculative in nature and occurred in advance of demand; and • While increasing throughout the forty year period, population density was only two persons per acre of land classified as "urban" in 1984. Existing land use is examined in greater detail in the inventory and analysis sections of this element and in the Coastal Management, Conservation, Recreation and Open Space, Transportation, Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Stormwater Management, Potable Water, Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge, and Housing Elements. Future Land Use Element 6