More change is predicted for central and northern Butler County — and more houses.

        This leads to inevitable questions: Where in Butler County will the next big growth occur? Will the development juggernaut continue? For how long?

        In the past 25 years, the county has lost more than 40,000 acres of farmland to residential, commercial and industrial expansion.

        “We're losing between 1,500 and 2,000 acres of farmland each year to development. Farms are simply disappearing,” said extension agent Steve Bartels. “We're down to fewer than 300 now.”

        Other people think that finding land isn't the problem. “There's still a lot of land left for development in Butler County,” said Patrick Merten, land development director for J-II Homes in Fairfield. “Everything hinges on sewer and water (lines) and roads. They drive development.”

        Mr. Merten expects subdivisions with single-family homes to be built in greater numbers in Liberty and Fairfield townships in the next five years.

        He said the next hot spot will be along Ohio 4 in Fairfield and Liberty Townships, which will grow because the area is close to the regional highway and I-75.

        “There's a lot of land for development between Route 4 and the interstate,” he said. “It will take some time to absorb all that land. But the absorption of the single-family market is dependent on factors such as fluctuation in interest rates and stocks and people's ability to advance economically.”

        Already residential growth is overflowing along Ohio 4, where Kroger and other retailers have recently built stores. Several large subdivisions are being built.

        In Fairfield Township, one fairly new upscale development includes a golf course.

        “This township is taking off,” said Police Chief Richard St. John, a Butler County native. “Not only residential, but commercial development.”

        In the next 10 years, more people could move into central and northern Butler County — areas that are now rural and semi-rural — if a proposed major highway project begins.

        Initially, the new 10-mile Trenton Bypass would affect only that area. Construction would begin in July 2003, and run from Ohio 4 (Hamilton-Middletown Road) to U.S. 127. The highway is expected to relieve congestion — especially truck traffic — in an area that has developed with Miller Brewery and other industries and homes.

        Eventually, some officials would like to extend Ohio 63 from Monroe to Oxford.

        “Development has already moved into Wayne and Madison townships, and it's heading toward Oxford,” Mr. Bartels said. “When it's possible to drive from Oxford to Cincinnati in a little more than 30 minutes, look out. People will live out there.”

        Though Mr. Merten doesn't foresee subdivision development — on the level of what has happened in West Chester Township — in northern Butler County, he won't rule it out in the future.

        “If you could go from Oxford to I-75 in a reasonable amount of time, who knows what impact the road (Ohio 63 extension) could have?” he said. “Oxford has a strong educational system. It has a historic and nostalgic feeling with a high quality of life. People are looking for smaller, quaint communities.”

       Randy McNutt's column runs on Saturday. He may be reached at 860-7118 or at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

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