Political commentators routinely treat rural America as an undifferentiated bastion of strength for Republicans. In fact, rural America is a deceptively simple term describing a remarkably diverse collection of places encompassing nearly 75 percent of the U.S. land area and 50 million people. Voting trends in this vast area are far from…

While total farm population is declining, the number of people living on the farms which produce the bulk of the nation's food and fiber is increasing. The 1970-75 total farm population decline was 13 percent, but the number of people living on farms with annual sales greater than $40,000 increased 76 percent. Such farms account for about 80…

The attitudes and opinions of rural Michigan residents were surveyed on selected issues and policies in 1970. The sample included 343 respondents drawn from 34 randomly selected sampling points. Each point was a rural township from which about 10 interviews were made. Responses of the 88 farm and 255 nonfarm residents were compared in the study.…

Discusses three alternatives to the standard definition of the farm population as the farm resident population. Alternatives are farm occupation population, farm income population, and total farm-related population. Points out shortcomings, advantages, and appropriate uses for each definition. Notes population characteristics and the overlaps and…

The Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA) was completed by 760 randomly selected farm residents in an upper midwest state. Significant differences were found between mean LSIA scores according to subjects' education level and income but not age or gender. Generally, as education and income level increased, life satisfaction increased. (JHZ)

Presenting a model for the comparative analysis of farm organizations, this paper analyzes the farm firm as a complex organization; identifies key structural dimensions of an agricultural production unit; and reviews various organizational perspectives for their utility in understanding and explaining the behavior of farm operations and farm…

An estimated 64,798,000 persons, or 25% of the population of the United States, lived in rural areas in 1988. Rural areas include open countryside and places with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants not in the suburbs of large cities. This report presents demographic data on the rural population, pointing out that comparison with 1987 data suggests a…

The goal of this research study was to find factual information on the status and trends of black landownership in Tennessee. Information was collected on institutional practices associated with land transfers. One hundred forty-seven black landowners from three predominately black counties participated in the study. A questionnaire was developed…

A study of farm operator households indicates that although women participate in farm management, men still manage the majority of farms; women farm operators spend fewer hours in farm and off-farm work than men; and when women work in off-farm employment, the household has a higher average income. (LP)

This annotated bibliography is dedicated to rural women workers and their roles during the 20th century (1875-1971). It is concerned with materials which consider both the questions of rural manpower and rural womanpower. There are a variety of source materials (books, articles, research papers, etc.) and some 338 entries. Divided into six…

This report presents data on the 1986 income and poverty status of families and persons from 60,500 households in the United States. Among the variables examined are the following: (1) race; (2) Hispanic origin; (3) sex; (4) age; (5) marital status; (6) residence; and (7) family status. The following highlights are included: (1) for the fourth…

Interviews with 725 North Carolina farm operators revealed: the extent of economic, social, and emotional stresses on farm families; perceptions of the future of agriculture; the degree of reliance on off-farm income; financial management practices; and programs needed from the Agricultural Extension Service. Almost 66% viewed their future in…

This government report presents information on age, sex, labor force activities, and race and ethnic origin of the rural and rural farm population for 1987. Also included are fertility characteristics for the June 1987 Current Population Survey (CPS) supplement and data from the March 1987 CPS supplement on marital status, household, family…

The U.S. farm population continued its long-term downward trend during 1977, indicating that the population growth characteristic of nonmetropolitan counties since 1970 has not extended to population living on farms. In the 12-month period centered on April 1977, the farm population was 7,806,000, or 450,000 fewer farm residents (5.4%) than in…