A different landscape: rural poverty in America. (Statestats).Images of poverty are typically portrayed por·tray tr.v. por·trayed, por·tray·ing, por·trays 1. To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of. 2. To depict or describe in words. 3. To represent dramatically, as on the stage. with an urban backdrop Backdrop may refer to:
n. 1. A point-by-point summary. 2. Baseball A play in which a runner is trapped between bases and is pursued by fielders attempting to make the tag. adj. also run-down 1. a. public housing units, neglected inner city schools and dilapidated concrete playgrounds. But recently, legislators have intensified in·ten·si·fy v. in·ten·si·fied, in·ten·si·fy·ing, in·ten·si·fies v.tr. 1. To make intense or more intense: their discussions about poverty in a different landscape--rural America. Rural communities struggle not only with isolation and remoteness, but a significantly older and declining population and citizens with less education and income. Poverty rates for rural Americans are consistently higher than those in urban areas, 14 percent compared with 10 percent in 1999. Some 35.6 million people lived below the poverty line in 1999--7.4 million of them in rural areas. A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation According to their website, "the Annie E. Casey Foundation has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States." The foundation is a regular contributor to public broadcasting, including National Public Radio. shows that of the 200 "persistently poor" counties in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. (those with continuous poverty rates of 30 percent or higher), 195 are rural. On average, rural residents are less educated and poorer than their metropolitan counterparts. Rural workers are twice as likely to make only minimum wage and more likely to be working yet still poor. Poverty rates for children in rural areas are higher than rates for urban children as well, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the 2000 Census. Rural children are also more likely to be exposed to substance abuse and face a lack of health care. Rural poverty also tends to be more persistent and longer term than that found in cities. [GRAPH OMITTED]
INDICATORS OF POVERTY 2000: RURAL VS. URBAN
Social and economic indicators related to poverty show rural poor
families are worse off than those living in cities.
Rural Urban
Total Population (millions) 59.2 222.3
Median Household Income $32,837 $44,984
Per Capita Income $17,510 $23,470
Poverty Rate (percent) 13.4% 10.8%
Poverty Rate by Age (percent)
0-17 18.9% 15.4%
18-64 11.1% 10.2%
65 and older 13.2% 10.2%
Households at Risk for Hunger 11.5% 10.2%
Children in Households at Risk 20.6% 17.4%
for Hunger
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research
Service, September 20
RELATED ARTICLE: DEFINING POVERTY The poverty line is the minimum income necessary for a I family to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and other essentials, The Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), formerly the Bureau of the Budget, is an agency of the federal government that evaluates, formulates, and coordinates management procedures and program objectives within and among departments and agencies of the Executive Branch. sets the official poverty lines and adjusts for family size. The poverty rate for an area or for a category of people is the percentage of people with income less than the poverty line. Source: Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, December 2000. |
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