Poorest Counties
Some interesting info from their study:
- In each state, there was at least one county with a median annual household income more than $7,000 lower than the state's median income. Virginia and Maryland had counties with median incomes over $35,000 lower than that of the state.
- The population of 24 of these poorest counties was predominantly rural. Eight had 100% rural populations. However, in some states, the poorest counties were largely urban. For example, the poorest counties in New York and Pennsylvania had 100% urban populations as of 2010.
- While some of the counties had decent job markets, the unemployment rate of 36 of the poorest counties was above the national rate of 7.4% in 2013.
- In many of these counties, residents struggled with low educational attainment and limited job opportunities. In the five years through 2013, the percentage of adults who had attained at least a bachelor's degree was below the comparable national figure of 28.8% in 45 of the 50 counties.
In Illinois, the poorest county is Jackson..... which is the home of Southern Illinois University (in Carbondale).
Over 30% of residents in Jackson County live in poverty.
Wow. 30%.
It should make all of us think about how fortunate and blessed we are.
Out for now.......
Matt
