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Roads of lesser importance (collector roads) do not provide as good a <br /> service function, but do provide an area with access to the major road <br /> system. The least important roads (local roads) function in the most <br /> limited service capacity, but in aggregate provide large land areas with <br /> access to the more important roads and highways. <br /> The two major highways in Little River Township are the arterials N.C. 57, <br /> which runs in a north-easterly direction fram Hillsborough through the <br /> Township, and N.C. 357 which runs in a south-easterly <br /> direction toward the City of Durham. These two routes form an "X" <br /> pattern, intersecting in the center of the Township. The community <br /> of Caldwell has developed at that intersection. <br /> Other important routes in the Township include the collectors New Sharon <br /> Church Road (SR 1538) , Schley Road (SR 1548) and Little River Church Road <br /> (SR 1543), Guess Road (SR 1003), Pleasant Green Road (SR-1567). The re- <br /> maining roads serve primarily local traffic. <br /> Agriculture <br /> The major agricultural activities in Little River Township are tobacco <br /> farming, dairying, egg production and swine operations. Eight of Orange <br /> County's estimated fifty commercial dairy farms are in the Township with <br /> a total herd of over 360 milk cows. Four of Orange County's five commer- <br /> cial egg farms are in Little River Township, accbunting for over 130,000 <br /> layers. One commercial swine operation exists in the Township with some <br /> 300 sows. <br /> As of 1977, Little River contained 13.4% of the cropland and 10.4% of the <br /> pastureland in Orange County. However, like other agricultural areas in <br /> the County, Little River Township experienced a pattern of farmland con- <br /> version in recent decades. Reported cropland and pastureland, harvested <br /> and idle, declined by over 32% or some 3,400 acres between 1955 and 1977 <br /> (Table 3-114). <br /> TABLE 3-114 <br /> LITtLE RIVER TOWNSHIP FARMLAND TRENDS" <br /> CHANGE <br /> 1955 1977 1955-1977 CHANGE <br /> TOTAL CROPLAND 6,997 5,016 -1,981 -28.3% <br /> TOTAL PASTURE 3,695 2,258 -1,437 -38.9% <br /> TOTAL FARMLAND 10,692 7,274 -3,418 -32.0% <br /> lsoURCE: N.C. Crop and Livestock Reporting Service; Triangle J Council <br /> of Governments. <br /> The factors that have caused this decline in farming activity in Little <br /> River Township over the past two decades will most likely continue to <br /> influence the viability of farming in the future. These factors are <br />