Late in 1973 it became evident that the trend of population growth in the U.S. had turned toward rural and small town areas. Growth and migration rates for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas were compared. Counties were classified by certain basic functional characteristics, and the trend was examined in those that were dominated by some…

Presenting a continuous series of U.S. farm population estimates for 1910-70, this report also presents estimates of the farm population for geographic regions, divisions, and States for 1920-70. Annual estimates of the components of farm population change (births, deaths, and net change through migration and reclassification of residence) are…

U.S. Census data (1970-74) comparing population trends in the West were analyzed in reference to the recent urban to rural migration patterns exemplified by a total U.S. metropolitan population growth of 3.4 percent vs a nonmetropolitan growth of 5.6 percent (1970-74). In the West it was found that: (1) population increased 6.9 percent with…

Rapid rural outmovement began around 1940. This trend continued in the 1950's as farm adjustments rapidly took place and the worker-short cities welcomed rural manpower. The majority of nonmetro counties had greater retention of population in the 1960's. The peak of potential migration was reached and passed by the mid-1960's. Due to emerging…

Examines and explains unexpected population trends since 1970: substantial rural and small-town growth, regional shifts to the South and West, lower birth rates, increased life expectancy, smaller household size, and population growth from immigration. Illustrates how demographic events offer classic examples of the difficulty of predicting human…

A quarter of nonmetro counties lost population in the 1990s, but population loss was not related to poverty rate or low educational levels, perhaps because low-skill workers can no longer expect better wages in urban areas. Population loss was related to low population density and remoteness (which decrease access to services), lack of natural…

This report measures the amount of black migration from and to the nonmetropolitan parts of the United States south from 1965-70 and 1990-95. It considers trends both within the south and with the rest of the nation. For perspective, comparisons are made with the movement of the non-black population, more than 90 percent of which is white. In the…

All through the 1970-1980 decade, growth of population took place in the rural and small town areas of the United States where very little had occurred in earlier recent decades. In general, the trend can be viewed as one that was primarily socially motivated but facilitated by improved rural economic conditions. By contrast, in the first 3 years…