1. A Demographic and Socioeconomic Profile of the Region
Spotlight on the South
A Demographic and Socioeconomic Profile of the Region
Bo Beaulieu, Southern Rural Development Center

2. Outline of Presentation
Population characteristics
Family structure
Poverty status
Residential mobility patterns
Economic features
Educational status
The so whats !!

3. Examining Population Changes

4. Population Changes,
U.S. grew by 32.7 million persons, or 13.2%
Largest numerical increase in history
West region grew at the fastest rate (19.7%), followed by the South (17.3%)
The U.S. South has largest number of people, over 100 million persons
36% of the U.S. population now live in the South

5. Population Change Varies by State
For the first time in the 20th century, all U.S. states gained population
Nevada grew at the fastest pace : 66%
North Dakota grew the slowest: 0.5%
U.S. : 13.2%

6. Population Features of the Southern Region

7. Population of the Southern Region by Race & Ethnicity, 1990-2000
Group
1990
2000
Percent Change
’90-’00
Number %
Overall
77,597,917
100.0
91,776,331
18.3
White
59,779,737
77.0
66,929,689
72.9
12.0
Black
14,056,860
18.1
16,871,897
18.4
20.0
Hispanic
6,486,848
8.4
11,230,931
12.2
73.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

8. Sources of Population Change by Race, 1990-2000
29.7%
50.4%
19.9%

9. Population Change in Metro and Nonmetro Areas of the South by Race, 1990-2000

10. Distribution of Population by Age in the South, 1990-2000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

11. Population Profile of the South by by Age, 1990 & 2000
Age Group
Year
Numerical Change
1990
2000
Under 5
5,649,286
6,268,462
619,176
5 to 17
14,482,120
17,188,916
2,706,796
18-64
47,706,392
56,931,860
9,225,468
65 and over
9,760,119
11,387,093
1,626,974
Total
77,597,917
91,776,331
14,178,414
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

12. Percent Change in Population by Age Groupings, 1990-2000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

13. Percentage Growth Within Various Age Groupings in Metro & Nonmetro Areas of the South,1990-2000
5-17

14. The Changing Structure of the Family

15. Structure of Family Households with Children Under 18 Years Old, 1990 & 2000
Type
1990
2000
% Change
No. %
Married couple households
7,705,287
76.8
8,806,122
69.3
14.3
Male only headed households
382,120
3.8
812,020
6.4
112.5
Female only headed households
1,941,463
19.4
3,080,934
24.3
58.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

16. Family Structure of Metro and Nonmetro Families With Kids Under 18 in the South, 1990 and 2000

17. Shifts in Family Structure in the South’s Metro and Nonmetro Areas, 1990-2000

18. Structure of Family Households with Children Under 18 in 2000, by Race and Ethnicity

19. Poverty Status of Individuals

20. Percent of Population Below Poverty by Race and Ethnicity, 1990 & 2000

21. Number of Persons in Poverty, 1990 & 2000
Group
Year
Numerical Change
1990
2000
White
6,715,377
6,811,078
95,701
Black
4,489,669
4,247,753
-241,916
Hispanic
1,807,293
2,533,139
725,846
Overall
12,182,404
12,635,394
452,990
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

22. Poverty Shifts in Metro and Nonmetro Areas of the South, 1990-2000
Group
Metropolitan
Nonmetropolitan
Number
Percent
Overall
730,357
9.3
- 277,367
- 6.5
White
265,815
6.4
- 170,114
- 6.7
Black
- 40,522
- 1.4
- 201,394
- 13.3
Hispanic
631,023
42.2
94,823
30.2

23. Residential Mobility Patterns

24. Mobility Pattern of the Southern Region’s Population 5 and Over, 1990-2000
Residential Location
Year
Change
1990
2000
No. %
Overall population 5 +
71,948,631
100
88,507,869
13,559,238
18.8
Same house as 5 years ago
37,011,510
51.4
44,501,336
52.0
7,489,826
20.2
Different house, same county
18,128,508
25.2
20,727,263
24.2
2,598,755
14.3
Different house and county, same state
7,385,031
10.3
9,226,972
10.8
1,841,941
24.9
Different state
8,238,849
11.5
8,732,079
10.2
493,230
6.0
Different country
1,184,733
1.6
2,320,219
2.7
1,135,486
95.8

25. Mobility Patterns in Metro & Nonmetro Areas, 1990 & 2000

26. Change in Residential Location by Metro & Nonmetro Areas, 1990-2000
Number
% Change %
Change
Same house
6,159,081
24.1
1,330,745
11.6
Diff. House same county
2,397,696
17.4
201,059
4.6
Diff. County, same state
1,286,611
23.7
555,330
28.2
Different state
307,497
4.5
185,733
12.7
Different country
974,493
91.3
160,993
136.8

27. The Economic Features of the Region

28. Type of Industries Classified by Each Sector
Goods Producing
Farm
Agricultural Services
Mining
Manufacturing
Construction
Service Producing
Transportation and Public Utilities
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
Services
Government and Government Enterprises

29. The Industrial Profile of Full and Part-Time Jobs in the South,1990 and 2000
Source: Regional Economic Information System (REIS)

30. Proportion of New Full and Part-Time Jobs Generated by Each Sector, 1990-2000
8.4 %
Source: Regional Economic Information System (REIS)

31. Commute to Work by Labor Force Living in the South, 1990-2000
Location of Workforce Employment
Year
Change
1990
2000
No. %
In the workforce
35,172,336
100
41,038,702
5,866366
16.7
Work in county of residence
26,791,818
76.2
29,673,945
72.3
2,882,127
10.8
Work in state, outside county
7,344,257
20.9
10,130,210
24.7
2,785,943
37.9
Work outside state of residence
1,036,251
2.9
1,234,547
3.0
198,296
19.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

32. Commute to Work by Metro & Nonmetro Workforce, 1990 & 2000

33. Place of Work of the Expanded Workforce over the 1990-2000 Period
Metropolitan
Nonmetropolitan
Net new workers
4,807,474
1,058,892
Work in county of residence
55.4 %
20.6 %
Work in state, outside county
42.0 %
72.4 %
Outside state
2.6 %
6.9 %

34. Educational Credentials of the Region

35. Educational Attainment of Adults 25+ Years Old in the South, 1990 & 2000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

36. Changes in the Educational Status of Adults 25 and Over, 1990-2000
Attainment Level
1990
2000
Numerical Change
Percent Change
Less than High School
14,333,066
13,411,000
- 922,066
- 6.4
High School Only
14,201,700
16,969,652
2,767,952
19.3
Some College
9,055,343
12.484,416
3,429,073
37.9
Associate’s Degree
2,635,482
3,353,708
718,226
27.3
Bachelor’s Degree or higher
8,977,933
13,074,388
4,096,455
45.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

37. Educational Attainment of Adults 25 and Over by Race and Ethnicity, 1990-2000
African Americans
Hispanics
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

38. Educational Status of Metro and Nonmetro Southerners, 1990 and 2000

39. Educational Status of Metro & Nonmetro Southerners by Race, 2000

40. What’s the RD Story?
Dramatic rise in the influx of Latinos into the region (+ 73% during the decade). Rural communities will be challenged to:
Accept and embrace cultural differences
Expand bilingual language capacity in key service areas (education, health services, public safety services, etc.)
Address housing needs of this growing segment of the population

41. What’s the Story?
Healthy growth occurring in all age groups. Impact on the rural South?
Strong demand will exist for the provision of key services for youth and senior citizens
Healthy growth of working age population places increased pressure on rural areas to focus on job generation strategies.

42. What’s the Story? Family structure continues to become more complex
Nonmetro areas no longer more likely to have married couple families when contrasted with metro areas (both around 69%).
Rapid growth of single-headed families will place pressure for expanded family support systems to be in place (child care, after school programs, community recreation activities).
African American families at greatest risk with over 52 % of families with kids are headed by a single parent.

43. What’s the Story?
Poverty rates have improved during the 1990s, but rates are now on the upswing
About half of the growth in the South’s population growth in the ’90s is linked to growth of minority groups
These are the very groups at highest risk of falling into poverty
These demographic groups will continue to be the drivers of population growth in the region
What efforts must be developed to assist low-wealth individuals and families in the rural South?

44. What’s the Story?
Sizable % increases in the the in-migration of individuals from different counties in a state, or from different countries. What is driving this increase? What are rural communities doing to respond?

45. What’s the Story? Economy and Jobs:
Traditional base of the nonmetro South’s economy is declining, replaced by service producing sector jobs. What are the pluses and minuses for rural areas?
Decline of basic industries
Job quality
Earnings
Benefits
Security
Need for new economic development strategies beyond business/industry attraction approaches

46. What’s the Story? Economy and Jobs:
Sizable outflow of nonmetro workers in the South to work sites outside their county or state of residence. Is this:
A lifestyle preference or economic necessity?
Daily daily outflow of people to other areas is likely to have negative impact on social capital resources, civic engagement, family life, local businesses.
Multi-county economic development planning seems logical in light of the regional labor market that appears to be in place.

47. What’s the Story?
Education has improved in the rural South, but some RD challenges remain.
Many individuals completing “some education” beyond high school, but only a fraction of these individuals are securing an associate’s degree.
The 42 percent growth in the number of persons with a bachelor’s degree or higher in the rural South.
linked to the economy of the region?
due to the net migration of individuals who possess better human capital attributes?
Educational progress and expanded training targeted to racial and ethnic minorities vital to the economic health of the rural South.

48. Thank You ! !