Choctaw, AL
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 14,055
- Population change, 1990–2008: -12.3%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 17.9%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 55.1%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 9.6%
- Median household income in 2007: $31,508
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 21.8%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 6.7%
Clarke, AL
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 26,304
- Population change, 1990–2008: -3.4%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 15.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 54.6%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 12.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $32,627
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 21.8%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 4.1%
Marengo, AL
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 21,055
- Population change, 1990–2008: -8.8%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 15.3%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 46.2%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 12.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $32,747
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 20%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 3.1%
Wilcox, AL
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 12,803
- Population change, 1990–2008: -5.6%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 14.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 26.7%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 10.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $21,325
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 35.7%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 10.9%
Harlan, KY
- Economic dependence type: Mining
- 2008 Population: 30,783
- Population change, 1990–2008: -15.8%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 14.1%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 94.6%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 8.9%
- Median household income in 2007: $25,939
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 29.3%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: .8%
Letcher, KY
- Economic dependence type: Mining
- 2008 Population: 23,890
- Population change, 1990–2008: -11.5%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 14.8%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97.9%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 7.7%
- Median household income in 2007: $29,415
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 27%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: .9%
Chaffee, CO
- Economic dependence type: Government
- 2008 population: 16,995
- Population change, 1990–2008: 34%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 18.5%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 86.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 24.3%
- Median household income in 2007: $42,464
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 12.3%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 15.9%
Park, CO
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 16,993
- Population change, 1990–2008: 136.9
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 9.8%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 91.1%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 30.3%
- Median household income in 2007: $61,987
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 7.4%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 40.5%
Hancock, ME
- Economic dependence type: Services
- 2008 population: 53,137
- Population change, 1990–2008: 13.2%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 16.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 96.4%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 27.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $44,632
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 9.9%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 31.4%
Washington, ME
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 32,499
- Population change, 1990–2008: -8%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 18.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 92.1%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 14.7%
- Median household income in 2007: $32,624
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 20.1%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 24.5%
Jewell, KS
- Economic dependence type: Farming
- 2008 population: 3,142
- Population change, 1990–2008: -26.1
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 27,2
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97.9%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 13.8%
- Median household income in 2007: $35,440
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 12.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 4.1%
Osborne, KS
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 3,804
- Population change, 1990–2008: -21.8
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 24.9%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97.9%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 15.5%
- Median household income in 2007: $33,038
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 12.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: .7%
Republic, KS
- Economic dependence type: Farming
- 2008 population: 4,812
- Population change, 1990–2008: -25.8
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 27%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 14.9%
- Median household income in 2007: $36,226
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 10.8%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 1.2%
Smith, KS
- Economic dependence type: Farming
- 2008 population: 3,901
- Population change, 1990–2008: -23.2
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 28.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 98%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 16.7%
- Median household income in 2007: $35,054
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 11.9%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: .6%
Coahoma, MS
- Economic dependence type: Services
- 2008 population: 27,272
- Population change, 1990–2008: -13.9
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 12.1%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 23.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 16.2%
- Median household income in 2007: $26,452
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 32.2%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 1.5%
Quitman, MS
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 8,724
- Population change, 1990–2008: -16.8
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 14.7%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 29.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 10.6%
- Median household income in 2007: $24,680
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 36.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 1.5%
Tunica, MS
- Economic dependence type: Services
- 2008 population: 10,448
- Population change, 1990–2008: 28
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 9.7%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 25%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 9.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $29,894
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 25.4%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 5.3%
Oxford, ME
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 56,741
- Population change, 1990–2008: 7.9%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 16.2%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97.1%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 15.7%
- Median household income in 2007: $38,359
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 14.4%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 25.3%
Coos, NH
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 31,971
- Population change, 1990–2008: -8.2%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 19.5%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 97%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 11.9%
- Median household income in 2007: $40,857
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 11.7%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 21.4%
Clatsop, OR
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 37,404
- Population change, 1990–2008: 12.3%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 17.2%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 88.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 19.1%
- Median household income in 2007: $42,091
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 13.6%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 15.7%
Pacific, WA
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 21,271
- Population change, 1990–2008: 12.7%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 23.9%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 85.7%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 15.2%
- Median household income 2007: $37,501
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 16%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 26.7%
Alger, MI
- Economic dependence type: Manufacturing
- 2008 population: 9,438
- Population change, 1990–2008: 5.2%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 17.6%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 86.3%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 14.7%
- Median household income in 2007: $39,076
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 12.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 30.9%
Chippewa, MI
- Economic dependence type: Government
- 2008 population: 38,971
- Population change, 1990–2008: 12.6%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 14.1%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 74.4%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 15%
- Median household income in 2007: $39,171
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 16.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 24.6%
Luce, MI
- Economic dependence type: Government
- 2008 population: 6,614
- Population change, 1990–2008: 14.8%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 16.3%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 79.9%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 11.8%
- Median household income in 2007: $37,718
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 18.8%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 31.3%
Mackinac, MI
- Economic dependence type: Services
- 2008 population: 10,624
- Population change, 1990–2008: -0.5%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 22.8%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 77.8%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 14.9%
- Median household income in 2007: $38,506
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 12.1%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 41.9%
Schoolcraft, MI
- Economic dependence type: Nonspecialized
- 2008 population: 8,220
- Population change, 1990–2008: -1%
- Percent of population over 65 years old in 2008: 21.4%
- Percent non-Hispanic white in 2008: 88.7%
- Percent over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree in 2000: 11.3%
- Median household income in 2007: $36,842
- Percent of individuals in poverty in 2007: 14.5%
- Percent of total housing units for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use in 2000: 30.2%
Introduction
America’s rural communities are rooted in connections to the land, waters, and forests that comprise the American landscape. As we move into the 21st century, building a sustainable future for our rural communities will require coping with a complex array of issues. The already challenging history of cycles of economic boom and bust in natural resource industries, such as farming, fishing, forestry, or mining, are further complicated by globalization, resource depletion, changing demographics, new land-use patterns, and, especially important, climate change. Related dramatic changes in the cost and availability of energy have far-reaching implications for the future of natural resource–dependent communities.
The Carsey Institute’s interdisciplinary team of policy-minded researchers seeks to address these issues through building knowledge and awareness of the socioeconomic conditions, ecosystem changes, and policy opportunities in communities where natural resources play an important role in the local economy. Our work explores the potential of working landscape development strategies to build diverse, resilient local economies in rural and small-town America. We examine the dynamic interplay of changing social, economic, and environmental factors and the implications for ecologically sustainable economic development policies. Our objective is to provide high quality, policy-oriented information for use by rural advocates and policy makers, community development practitioners, the media, and the general public.
With support from the Ford Foundation and others, Carsey Institute work on community and environment in rural America has focused on change in regions of the country where there are important forest resources in conjunction with information from some non-forest rural regions to build our database to compare and contrast different types of rural areas. Groups of counties were selected to cover a wide range of circumstances across rural America today, from booming growth to stagnation and decline. Work so far focuses on sites in eight rural regions: the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific the Northwest, the Northeast, the Midwest, Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Black Belt of Alabama, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with plans to select more rural area study sites, including several in Indian Country. In each study area, we conduct a telephone survey to obtain residents’ responses to about 100 questions, covering topics that range from personal background and experiences (such as family, jobs, education, and life situation) to their migration history and expectations and views about the environment, their region, local government, and community. To date, we have created a rich database of interviews with nearly 10,000 rural residents in eight different regions.
Carsey’s interdisciplinary research team is deepening understanding of each study area by combining the approximately 1,000 interviews in each place with detailed tables and maps demonstrating socioeconomic trends over time. We are also developing comparative descriptions and spatial imagery analysis of forest and ecosystem characteristics and ownership and use patterns, as well as analyses of the changes taking place in traditional forest-based industries, resource management regimes, and the organizational forces and institutional structures in each region. Partnership with regional practitioners and advocates is critical to our approach, and we are actively collaborating with organizations such as MACED and the Central Appalachian Network in Appalachia, ShoreBank Cascadia in the Northwest, Northern Initiatives in the upper Midwest, and the Northern Forest Center and Coastal Enterprises in the Northeast, sharing analyses as we do them and responding to information needs that they and their partners have. Our applied team of twelve includes sociologists, resource economists, foresters, geographers, conservation biologists, demographers, and climate change specialists.
CERA publications
- Place Matters: Challenges and Opportunities in Four Rural Americas (Hamilton, Hamilton, Duncan, and Colocousis, 2008, Reports on Rural America, Volume 1, Number 4)
- The State of Coos County: Local Perspectives on Community and Change (Colocousis, 2008, New England Issue Brief No. 7)
CERA projects
- Social, Economic, and Environmental Change in Indian Country: Partnering to Support Community Resilience and Sustainable Rural Development
- Transitioning Rural Communities
- Tracking Changes in the North Country - CERA survey
See all works in progress