Try driving from Ft. Worth, Texas to Las Vegas, New Mexico. Lots of open country on that trip. Lots of abandoned towns, as well.
I understand your point, but if you live along one of the coasts, and never travel inland, you have a perverted view of the world.
One that the 'population zero' crowd would like for everyone to have.
Comfortable carrying capacity for the land area on this planet is 25-60 Billion. Don't whine because the east coast is packed within 100 miles of the coast. Move somewhere where your nearest neighbor is a half-mile away. Still lots of those places left.
/johnny
The federal government buying up land, then limiting usage and denying human access also increases the “overpopulation” feel. Around a quarter of the country is no-go, no-graze, no-farm, no-mine. It makes the rest of the land feel over-crowded.