As precipitation has declined,  much of the ranch land has been split up into 35-40 acre parcels on which homes now stand. Area zoning permits a density of one house per  parcel.
As agricultural land has shrunk due to reduced rainfall, it has been fragmented into smaller sections, usually around 35-40 acres, which are now occupied by single-family homes. Zoning regulations dictate that no more than one house can be built on each plot.