Duncan RuralAmericaInTransi tion

Rural America in Transition:A Comparison of Conditions and Perspectives in Amenity Rich, Resource Dependent and Chronically Poor Communities: 

Rural America in Transition: A Comparison of Conditions and Perspectives in Amenity Rich, Resource Dependent and Chronically Poor Communities National Rural Assembly June 2007 The Carsey Institute University of New Hampshire

Today there are three rural Americas, each with its own challenges : 

Today there are three rural Americas, each with its own challenges Amenity rich areas that are growing as baby boomers retire, as more people buy 2nd homes, and as “footloose professionals” choose to settle in small town communities with rich natural amenities or outside large cities Declining resource dependent areas, where once agriculture, timber, mining or related manufacturing industries often supported a solid blue collar middle class, even if there were busts that accompanied the booms Chronically poor communities, places with majority people of color, as well as Appalachia and the Ozarks, where decades of resource extraction and underinvestment in communities have left a legacy of poverty, low education and broken civic institutions

Amenity-rich areas are growing and likely to grow more over the next decade: 

Amenity-rich areas are growing and likely to grow more over the next decade

Persistent population loss plagues other resource dependent areas: 

Persistent population loss plagues other resource dependent areas Loss is concentrated in the Great Plains, parts of the Corn Belt, the lower Mississippi Valley, and Appalachia

Poverty and Low Educational Attainment Go Hand in Hand – and Forecast Even Harder Times in the Global Economy: 

Poverty and Low Educational Attainment Go Hand in Hand – and Forecast Even Harder Times in the Global Economy

A Fresh Look at Migration, Coping with new Economic Conditions, and Perspectives on Community and the Environment: 

A Fresh Look at Migration, Coping with new Economic Conditions, and Perspectives on Community and the Environment Rocky Mountain West – Amenity Boom Pacific Northwest – Amenity & Decline Northeast Forest – Amenity & Decline Midwestern Plains – Decline Central Appalachia – Chronic Poverty Mississippi Delta – Chronic Poverty

Population Change, Employment, Poverty : 

Population Change, Employment, Poverty

An Economic Profile: 

An Economic Profile

Newcomers in the Amenity Rich Communities: 

Newcomers in the Amenity Rich Communities

Making a Living, Making Ends Meet: 

Making a Living, Making Ends Meet

Percent with Second Job: 

Percent with Second Job

People are feeling the changes in the economy: 

People are feeling the changes in the economy

Percent Receiving Food Stamps or Disability/SSI: 

Percent Receiving Food Stamps or Disability/SSI

Percent Know Someone in Iraq or Afghanistan: 

Percent Know Someone in Iraq or Afghanistan

Percent Respondent’s Mothers with less than HS Diploma: 

Percent Respondent’s Mothers with less than HS Diploma

Educational Attainment: 

Educational Attainment

Trust is high in rural America – with some variation: 

Trust is high in rural America – with some variation

Rural Americans enjoy the out of doors: 

Rural Americans enjoy the out of doors

Community Problems: 

Community Problems

Migration Intentions and Advice to Local Youth: 

Migration Intentions and Advice to Local Youth

Reasons to Stay: 

Reasons to Stay

Environmental Issues Affect Rural Communities: 

Environmental Issues Affect Rural Communities

Are Conservation Regulations Good or Bad Here?: 

Are Conservation Regulations Good or Bad Here?

What does this snapshot suggest about policies for rural America?: 

What does this snapshot suggest about policies for rural America? Amenity rich places: environmental and sprawl policies to maintain amenities, and living wage, affordable housing policies to assure inclusion Declining places: build on historical human and social capital – New Homestead Act-like policies Poor places with low education, high dependency, limited future prospects: Invest in human capital: early childhood education, charter schools, technical colleges; restore natural environment

National Rural AssemblyJune 2007: 

National Rural Assembly June 2007 Carsey Institute University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 03824 Building Knowledge for Families and Communities http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu