Data on rural-urban differences in access to telecommunications technology suggest that the U.S. "digital divide" is diminishing. However, major shortcomings in telecommunications infrastructure persist in rural America, and more serious barriers to rural development are related to human capital shortages. These may be resolved in some…

A study of characteristics and motives of migrants to the Northern Great Plains surveyed 1,590 new residents in Nebraska and North Dakota. New arrivals were younger and had higher educational levels than existing residents. Most often cited reasons for moving were desire to be closer to relatives, safety concerns, and quality of the natural…

In 1996, nonmetropolitan immigrants lived mainly in the South (37%) and West (35%) but were unevenly distributed. Over half were Mexican; 38% of naturalized citizens, and 24% of noncitizens were children. Compared to metro immigrants, nonmetro immigrants had lower educational attainment, earnings, and rates of welfare assistance and higher poverty…

Rapid economic and population growth characterized the 1970s in much of rural America. Unfortunately, this "Rural Renaissance" was short-lived. Although some rural areas grew or remained stable during the 1980s, many others experienced stagnation and decline, evidenced by a variety of indicators. This document consists of graphic maps…

Due largely to outmigration of young people, the nonmetropolitan United States has a lower proportion of people in the prime working ages of 20-44 than do metropolitan areas. Discouraged workers and high levels of work-preventing disabilities have contributed to lower rates of nonmetropolitan labor force participation for each age group between 20…

This theme issue of the newsletter "Southern Perspectives" contains five articles on labor supply and demand issues in the rural South: "An Overview of Employment Changes in the Nonmetropolitan South" (David L. Barkley) examines nonmetro earnings trends in 16 southern states and employment trends in selected industries in the…

Demographic and socioeconomic conditions and changes in rural communities provide the context for education programs in such areas. Although these conditions have improved since the 1950s, they have worsened since 1980, affecting the human resource base of rural economics. Cyclical and structural changes affect--and are affected--by: (1) reduced…

This report builds upon the "State of the South, 1996" report by concentrating on how various segments of the region's population are faring, with special attention to gender, ethnicity, and education. States included in the regional analysis are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,…

This report analyzes 30-year trends in population, jobs, income, poverty, and education in the South, including comparisons to national trends and projections for the year 2010. The report aims to document the South's success in overcoming poverty and discrimination, draw attention to barriers that block further economic progress, and make…

This report, culling data from Census Bureau reports from 1850 to 1980 provides information in the following three categories: (1) Minority Groups in Iowa: The Situation in 1980; (2) Changes from 1970 to 1980 for Black and White Iowans; and (3) Changes from 1900 to 1980 for Black and White Iowans. Among the highlights for the Iowa population in…