The Social Construction of a Sense of Place

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the meanings recreationists tenting at an agricultural fair associated with the settings in which their fair experience occurred. Using a symbolic interactionist framework, our analysis of data collected through onsite observation and using photo-elicitation guided interviews illustrated that informants' place meanings were the product of interactive processes involving the individual, their social world and the physical setting. These interactions elicited meanings tied to place that were largely independent of the physical attributes that defined the setting. Most significant were specific place experiences shared with family and close friends. The importance attached to these relationships and experiences were embedded in the spatial contexts that encapsulated informants' fair experience. Findings from this investigation shed light on the social construction of place meaning within a built environment.

Keywords:

• agricultural fair
• sense of place
• symbolic interactionism

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to Deborah Kerstetter, Linda Caldwell, and Jerry Olson for their assistance throughout the conduct of this research.

This research was funded through a grant provided by the National Science Foundation's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences program (Cultural Anthropology).