Older blacks migrated to nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) communities in the 1990s to a degree not true of the past. Some of the nonmetro counties that attracted them are well-known retirement areas also favored by other retirees, mostly whites. Two-thirds of black retirement counties, however, are areas in the Old South that are not attracting other…

Total farm population has continued to decrease; the April 1968 average of 10,454,000 persons reflected an estimated drop of 421,000 since April 1967. The regional distribution remained the same, however, with the largest concentration in the South, about 45 percent, while the North Central Region ranked second with 39 percent. During 1967-1968,…

More than 64% of U.S. nonmetropolitan counties gained population during 1990-92, compared to 45% in the 1980s. Nonmetro population continued to grow at a slower pace than the metropolitan population, but the gap was narrower than in the 1980s. Net migration gains accounted for 43% of total nonmetro population gain, 1990-92. (Author/SV)

Annual nonmetro population growth was lower in 1980-88 than in 1970s, but agricultural and manufacturing counties showed some recovery in 1986-88. Retirement counties grew at twice national rate during 1980s, underscoring diversity in nonmetro population trends across regions. Rural outmigration pattern was diverse with a net national balance to…

The purpose of this paper is to review recent trends in the rural and/or nonmetropolitan population and to indicate some of the linkages and implications for national population policy. The vast rural to urban migration of the last generation was necessary and rational, since most migrants believed they benefitted by moving. Although much of the…