CHARTBOOK OF NONMETRO-METRO TRENDS. Economic Development Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture. Rural Development Research Report No. 43.

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Preface

Charts, tables, maps, and text in this report measure differences in

population, employment, income, poverty, housing, and government between nonmetro and metro America. The charts give the reader a quick

method for discerning socioeconomic trends in metro and nonmetro

areas.

Contents

Population .-2

Employment 8

Income 14

Poverty 18

Housing 24

Government .30

Source tables 35

Washington, D.C. September 1984
Population

The South and West led the Nation in population growth during the

seventies. Above-average growth also occurred in parts of Minnesota,

Wisconsin, Michigan, and New England, Population declines occurred

mostly in agricultural counties of the Plains, the western Corn Belt, and

the Mississippi Delta.

Charts in this section demonstrate that:

• The nonmetro population growth accelerated in the seventies.

• Farm population loss slackened in the seventies.

• Median age of population is rising.

• Youths constitute an unusually large share of the black and Hispanic

populations.

• Household size has shrunk.

• Proportion of female-headed households is growing.
POPULATION CHANGE

1970-1980

Change

Increase of 11.4 percent

and under

Increase of 11.5 —

22.7 percent

Increase of 22.8 percent

or more

Bureau of the Census

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Nonmetro Population Growth AccBlerated

In th0 SBventles

Nonmetro

Q 1970-80

^ 1960-70

Total

Population in rural and small town communities during the

seventies grew faster than in metro areas. Rural and small town

population increased by 15.8 percent, from 1970 to 1980, compared with a 9.8-percent population increase in city and suburban

counties. Nonmetro population increased only 4.4 percent in the

sixties, about a fourth of the metro growth of 17 percent. The

greatest contrast between metro and nonmetro population

change in the seventies occurred among blacks (table 1).

Farm Population Loss Slackened

In the Seventies

Million p«r

20

-\ Old definition

N«w definition

In 1982, 5.6 million people lived on farms in the United States,

compared with 15.6 million in 1960. The rate of decline in farm

population slackened in the seventies: an average of 2.9 percent

a year compared with 4.8 percent annually in the sixties, according to the old farm definition upon which the earlier data are

based (see footnote 2, table 2). Most farm residents (82 percent)

lived in nonmetro counties, outside the boundaries of standard

metropolitan statistical areas (SMSA's) in 1982. Those 18 percent

living within metro areas were concentrated in the smaller

SMSA's: three-fourths of them in rural parts of SMSA's of less

than 1 million population (table 2).
The median age of both metro and

nonmetro residents in 1982 exceeded 30

years, up by more than a year from 1974.

The increase resulted from declining fertility, aging of the World War II baby boom

group, and increasing longevity of people.

The median age of Hispanics and blacks also

increased but, because of their fertility,

remains lower than the population as a

whole. Nonmetro Hispanics, with a median

age of 22.1 years in 1982, are a particularly

young group (table 2).

Median Age of Population Rises

M« d i a n o g «

40 1

Metro Nonmetro

Q 1982

M 1974

30

20 -

10

^

Total Black Hispanic Total Black Hispanic
The proportion of the population under 14

years old is relatively higher for blacks and

Hispanics than for the total population, a

reflection of higher birth rates for these two

groups. The percentage that older people

(65 years and over) comprise of the total is

somewhat higher in nonmetro counties than

in metro counties. Hispanics had a lower

percentage of older people regardless of

place of residence in 1982 (table 2).

Youths Constitute Unusually Large Share

of Black and Hispanic Populations

fm r c

p op u

• n t of

lot ion

100 1

80

60 -

40

20- I

Metro

é

i

ilil i

Nonmetro

i

î

IPIL

65 ye

and o

14 to

years

Under

years

ars

ver

64

14

Total Black Hispanic Total Black Hispanic
Household Size Shrinks

Avarag« numb«r

of paraona

par housahoid

2-

Metro Nonmetro

Q 1982

^1973

Black Total Black

U.S. households in 1982 averaged 2.7 people, compared with 3 in

1973. Much of the metro and nonmetro decline in average

household size resulted from a substantial increase in singleperson households. Households headed by Hispanics and blacks

remain larger than others (table 3).

Proportion of Female-headed Households

Is Growing

Parcant of houaaholda

haadad by fama las.

no husband praaant

50 1

40-

30

20

10

0-"

Metro Nonmetro

01982

^1973

Black Total Black

The proportion of households headed by women without

husbands present is growing, a trend particularly evident in

metro areas. Over 28 percent of metro households were headed

by such women, compared Mdth nearly 24 percent in nonmetro

areas. The proportion of households headed by a woman alone is

much higher for blacks in both metro and nonmetro areas

(table 3).
Employment

The Nation's annual average rate of unemployment rose from 5,8 percent

to 9.7 percent during the 1979-82 recession. But, unemployment rates

were higher than the national average in the northern and southern

manufacturing States and in parts of the West. Unemployment rates were

below 6 percent in the agriculturally dominated Northern and Southern

Plains.

Charts in this section indicate that:

• Adjusted nonmetro unemployment rates are higher than metro rates.

• Metro and nonmetro areas experienced equal employment growth

rates from 1973 to 1982.

• Most jobs are in government and other services.

• Minority farmworkers are more likely than white workers to cite hired

farmwork as their main activity.

• Female participation in the labor force has increased dramatically.

• Farmworkers are fewer, but are working more days on farms.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

1982

^O

Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Department of Labor

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture
P«rc«nt

unaiTip ioyed

20 -I

AdIustBd NonmBtro Unemploymmnt Rates

are Higher Than Metro Rates

Nonmatro adjusted ' ^

Nonm«tro officia

2 3

1977

2 3

1978

4-123 4 1234123 2 3

1962

4 12 3 4 12

Adjusted unemployment rates were nearly identical in metro and

nonmetro areas prior to 1978; since then nonmetro rates have

been consistently higher. The adjusted rate is a broad measure

of unemployment that includes all persons counted as unemployed in the official measure plus persons who have given up

looking for work and half of the persons involuntarily working

part-time. Nonmetro employment growth has been inadequate to

absorb increases in the labor force resulting from population

growth and higher labor force participation rates. Metro places

also experienced rising unemployment rates in recent years but

have been better able to provide jobs for persons wanting to

work (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

10

Metro and Nonmetro Areas Achieve

Equal Employment Growth

Othar 3«rvic«3

/kg ricultur«.

mining. ond

const ruct ion

Ma nufacturing

onme tro

Wage and salary employment growth rates for 1973-82 in metro

and nonmetro counties averaged 18 percent. Services led all

other sectors in employment growth with growth rates of 52.6

percent in metro counties and 60.6 in nonmetro counties. Services accounted for 47 percent of all new metro jobs. Unlike services, ''other services" in metro areas outpaced ''other services"

in nonmetro areas. These "other services" include communications and public utilities, finance, insurance, real estate, and

private household workers. Wholesale and retail trade along with

government experienced strong growth rates, especially in nonmetro counties. The agricultural, mining, and construction

growth rate was greater in metro than in nonmetro counties.

Manufacturing employment declined slightly from 1973 employment levels (table 4).
Most Jobs are In Government and

Other Services

Farcent of

wo r k Q r 3 Metro Nonmetro

100

80

60

40

20

Service producing

sectors

ESSl Government

PC^ Qt her services

Goods producing

sectors

K/1 Mo nufacturing

^a Agriculture,

mi n i ng. and

con atruction

1973 1982 1973 1982

Government's share of wage and salary employment remained

about the same in metro and nonmetro counties in 1973 and

1982, averaging about 17 percent. Other services which include

such nongovernment services as transportation, wholesale and

retail trade, finance, insurance, and real estate, when taken

together, constituted the bulk of 1982 wage and salary employment: 46.3 percent in nonmetro areas and 56.3 percent in metro

places. These nongovernment other services expanded their

share of employment between 1973 and 1982, while goods producing sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture reduced

their share of employment in both metro and nonmetro counties

(table 4).

Minority Farmworkers Are More Likely Than

White Workers to Cite Hired Farmwork

as Their Main Activity

0,

I Blacks

others

Hi red Nonfarm All Atten

farmwork wo rk sehe

s principal

act ivi ty Not in labo r fo

Most hired farmworkers do farmwork on a casual or seasonal

basis for a few days or weeks in the summer. During most of

the year, these workers operate farms, hold nonf arm jobs, are

unemployed, or are out of the labor force, either attending

school, keeping house, or following some other nonlabor force activity. In 1981, only 28 percent of all farmworkers said hired

farmwork was their principal activity, and 48 percent were out

of the labor force most of the year. Hispanics and blacks and

others were more likely than whites to cite hired farmwork as

their major activity. Over half of the Hispanics and 39 percent of

the blacks and others cited hired farmwork as their principal activity, compared with 22 percent of the whites. Whites were

more likely than the other groups to be in school most of the

year (table 7).

11
Female labor force participation increased

dramatically in metro and nonmetro counties during 1973-82, resulting in a large increase in female employment since 1973

despite the general rise in unemployment.

The gain in female labor force participation

was largest for Hispanics in nonmetro counties, where the increase was 8.4 percentage

points. Blacks had the highest female metro

labor force participation by 1982, but whites

claimed the highest level for females in nonmetro counties. Male participation declined

in metro and nonmetro counties between

1973 and 1982. While rates for Hispanic

males declined slightly in metro counties,

they actually increased in nonmetro counties, but only by 0.3 percentage points. Participation rates for black males declined in

both sectors, but especially in the nonmetro

counties where their participation declined

by 4 percentage points (table 5).

FomalB Participation In Labor Força

P«rc«nt in

labor fore«

100 n

ao -

Climbs Dramatically

-Ma 1 • 3 — F e ma leaQ

60 -

40

20 -

Total

P* r c« n t in

labor fore«

100 n

ao

60

40

20

21

Tota 1

19S2

1973

Slack Hispanic Total

Metro

Black Hi span i c

1982

1973

7^ I

^

P^ II «m

Black H i »p an i c Total Black Hispanic

Nonmetro

12
The number of hired farmworkers declined

32.5 percent between 1960 and 1981, from

3.7 million in 1960 to 2.5 million in 1981.

There were fewer hired farmworkers in

1981, but they worked more days (average

of 98 days per year) compared with the

1960 hired farmworkers (average of 86

days). The total number of days worked

declined 23.3 percent during the same

period, from 318 million in 1960 to 244

million in 1981. Regular and year-round

farmworkers who worked on the farm for

150 days or more per year comprised about

25 percent of the farmworkers but performed almost 75 percent of the total days of

farmwork in 1981. Seasonal and casual farmworkers working fewer than 150 days per

year accounted for about 27 percent of total

days worked (table 6).

Mi 1 1 ior

wo r k e r:

5 n

3 -

Farmworkers are Fewer,

but Work More Days YÄ

1 -

1 960

Mi Ilion

wo r k e d

400

300

ZOO

Regu lar

and ye a rr ou nd

wo rk e r 3

Sea 3ona 1

wo rke r 3

Ca 3U a 1

wo rke r a

1965 197Ü 1975 19SO

day 3 Q Regu lar

and yea rrou nd

wo rke r s

Seasona1

wo rke r s

Ca 3U a 1

wo rke r s

1 960 1965 1970 1975 19SO

13
Income

Manufacturing is the leading source of personal income througtiout much

of the eastern half of the Nation. Transfer payments (mostly social security payments) are most important in areas where inmigration of older people has been high: for example in Florida, the Ozarks, and the Southwest Mining provides the major source of income in southern West

Virginia and eastern Kentucky as well as a few areas in Oklahoma,

Texas, and North Dakota. A few counties of the Rocky Mountain States

and the Iron Range of northern Minnesota depend on mining. Agriculture

leads other income sources in most areas of the Northern and Southern

Plains and western Corn Belt.

Charts in this section indicate that:

• Nonmetro incomes lag behind metro incomes.

• Earnings as a portion of personal income have declined.

• Agriculture's share of total earnings has declined in nonmetro areas.

• Farmers depend heavily on off-farm sources for income.

14
LEADING SOURCES OF PERSONAL INCOME

1976-1980

I Agriculture, Forestry

and Fisheries

Net transfer payments

Manufacturing

Mining

Other

Bureau of Economic Analysis

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

15
Nonmetro ¡ncorriBS Lag Behind

Metro Incomes

Metro Nonmetro

Q 1982

m 1973

Total Block Hispanic Total Black Hispanic

Median family income increased substantially in metro and

nonmetro counties for black and white families between 1973 and

1982. But, nonmetro income still lagged behind metro income.

Median family income for the nonmetro population was about 80

percent of metro income in 1973 and 1982. Blacks had lower incomes than did whites in both metro and nonmetro areas»

Nonmetro Hispanics earned 95 percent as much as their metro

counterparts. Hispanic income was greater than the income level

for blacks, but less than the white income level (table 2).

Earnings as a Portion of Personal

Income Decline

100 Metro

60

40

20

Nonmetro M Dividends,

interest,

and rent

0 Transfers

^ Earned

income

1973 1980 1973

Earned income is the largest source of personal income in both

metro and nonmetro areas. (Earned income consists of wages

and salaries, other labor income, and self-employment income.)

But, transfer payments, such as social security, and property income accounted for a larger share of income in 1980 than in

1973, particularly in nonmetro areas. By 1980, approximately

one-third of nonmetro personal income came from property and

transfers (Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Dept. of

Commerce).

16
Agriculture's Share of Total Earnings

Declines in Nonmetro Areas

Met ro Nonmetro

Q VyA Manufacturing

I Ag riculture

I Mi n i ng and

1 Se rV i ce

producing

indust ries

Agriculture's share of total earnings in nonmetro areas declined

by 10 percentage points between 1973 and 1980, from 17.1 to

7 percent, while mining, construction, and manufacturing claimed

slightly larger percentage shares of total nonmetro earnings.

Service producing industries in nonmetro areas increased their

share of earnings by 6 percentage points during the period. Percentage shares of metro sources of income remained about the

same between 1973 and 1980. Service producing industries were

still the major source of income, accounting for about two-thirds

of total earnings (Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Dept. of

Commerce).

Notes:

• Earnings include wages and salaries, other labor income, and

self-employment income.

• Agriculture includes forestry and fisheries, agricultural services, and farming.

• Service producing industries include transportation, public

utilities, communication, wholesale and retail trade, finance,

insurance and real estate, government, and all other services.

Off-farm Income of the Farm

Population Rises

Poliar

9000

8000

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Per capita

income :

0 Nonfarm

Q Form

Total

1973 1982

Farmers depend heavily upon nonfarm sources of income. Over

three-fifths of the farm population's personal income came from

nonfarm sources in 1982, compared with only two-fifths in 1973.

Nonfarm sources of income include wages and salaries from nonfarm employment, nonfarm business income, rent from nonfarm

real estate, dividends, interest, and social security checks. Farm

income changes dramatically from year to year (National

Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Dept. of

Agriculture).

17
Poverty

Poverty in 1979 was most heavily concentrated in the Appalachian and

Ozark regions, as well as extensive areas of the South with large black

populations and areas in the Southwest where Hispanic and American Indian populations are concentrated. Poverty rates were high in the

Northern Plains where agriculture is a main source of income. Incidence

of poverty was relatively low in most parts of the northern manufacturing

belt, in a few areas of the western Corn Belt, and in the Pacific States.

Charts in this section indicate that:

• Poverty rates climbed in the 1970's.

• Poverty rates are higher for female-headed families.

• Percentages of elderly in poverty have declined.

• Poor people show a willingness to work.

• Metro and nonmetro welfare program participation rates depend on

program design.

• Nonmetro poor families have more workers than metro poor families.

18
PERCENT OF PEOPLE IN POVERTY

1979

10.0-12.4

12.5-19.9

20.0-24.9

25.0 or more

Bureau of the Census

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

19
The percentage of the population living in

poverty in 1982 was higher than in 1973 in

metro and nonmetro counties. These higher

poverty rates may reflect the national recession in 1982 and subsequent high unemployment and a decline in real income.

Nonmetro counties continued to have higher

poverty rates in 1982, The metro Hispanic

population experienced the greatest rise in

poverty, from 20.3 percent in 1973 to 29.7

percent in 1982. But, the nonmetro black

population had the highest poverty rate,

42.3 percent (table 8).

Poverty Rates Climbed In the 1970's

P«rc«n-t in

p ova r t y

50 1

40

30

20

10

Metro Nonmetro

Q 1982

^ 1973

P^

m

V)

'A m \A

V)

U.

^iÀ m.¿Á m.¿Á WiùL.

Total Black Hispanic Total Black Hispanic
P« rcant

pov« rt y

50 -I

Poverty Rate Is Higher for

Female-headed Families

Metro Nonmetro

L3 19S2

^1973

m i n

haadad

fami i iaa

P«op 1

f «ma 1e —

h » a d a d

fami1iea

Peop 1 e

in other

fami1ies

People in female-headed families in metro areas were five times

more likely to be in poverty than members of other family types.

People in nonmetro female-headed families were also more likely

to be poor (table 8).

Far

pov

Percentage of Elderly in

Poverty Declines

30 1

20

10

E2 1982

^1973

Metro Nonmetro

Poverty rates for the nonmetro aged declined between 1973 and

1982, but remained about equal for the metro population. Metro

poverty rates for the aged (12.6 percent) were lower than the

rates of the total metro population (13.7 percent). Nonmetro

poverty rates for the aged (18 percent) in 1982 were about the

same as those for the total population (17.8 percent). The aged

had lower poverty rates than did other groups, such as blacks,

Hispanics, or female-headed families (table 8).

21
Poor People Show Willingness to Work

P«rcQnt

of poor

populat ion

60

50

40

30

20 i

Met ro Nonmetro

10

Q 1982

^ 1973

Householders

who worked

HousehoIders

who worked

ful1-t irae

Householders

who worked

Householders

who worked

full-time

Many people believe that poverty indicates an unwillingness to

work. However, about half of all poor householders worked in

1973 and 1982, and a higher portion of nonmetro than metro poor

householders worked both years. More nonmetro poor

householders than metro worked full-time. Major reasons for not

maintaining employment were illness or disability, keeping

house, and retirement. People keeping house are generally

women and may be taking care of children, the sick, or the aged.

These activities limit their ability to look for or hold jobs

(table 8).

22

Metro'Nonmetro Welfare Rates Depend

on Program Design

popu lat ion

10 -

6 -

Supplemental

securi ty

income

^ Nonmet ro

QMetro

^Total

Aid to families

with dependent

chiIdren

Food stamps

The percentage of the population receiving aid to families with

dependent children (AFDC) was higher in metro counties than in

the nonmetro counties in 1980. The AFDC program, designed to

serve female-headed families, had heavier participation in metro

areas where such families were concentrated. Supplemental

security income (SSI) and the food stamp program (FS) participation, however, was higher for nonmetro counties. A larger share

of the nonmetro poor are elderly and are thus eligible for help

from SSI, which serves needy aged, blind, and disabled people.

The FS program allows male-headed famihes to participate and

since these families are more likely to be nonmetropolitan, the

participation rates were higher for nonmetro counties than for

metro counties (table 3).
About 54 percent of metro poor families had

workers in 1982, compared with 68 percent

of the nonmetro poor families. Nonmetro

poor families also were more likely to have

two or more workers than the metro poor

families in 1982: 28.1 percent in nonmetro

famihes versus 16.7 percent in metro

families (table 8).

Nonmetro Poor

Than

Percent of

poor families

50

40

30

20

10

Metro

Families Have More Worf(ers

Metro Counterparts

Nonmetro

2 or more

workers

1 worker

No workers

^

m

1973 1982 1973 1982

23
Housing

Most housing without complete plumbing is in the predominately

nonmetro white-populated Appalachian and Ozark areas, and in the

southern nonmetro areas where large black populations reside. High

percentages of inadequate housing are also found in southern Texas

where many Híspanles live and in the Four Corners area of Arizona and

New Mexico where Hispanic and American Indian populations are

concentrated.

Charts in this section indicate that:

• Metro areas are outpacing nonmetro areas in housing starts.

• Conventional single-unit housing is most popular.

• Nonmetro people are more likely than metro people to live in inadequate housing.

• Mobile-home living is concentrated in nonmetro areas.

• Owner-occupied homes are more prevalent in nonmetro areas.

• Rents are increasing faster than renter income.

24
PERCENT OF OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS WITH INADEQUATE PLUMBING

1980

Less than 5.0

5.0-9.9

10.0-19.9

20.0 and over

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

25
All residential construction subsided after

record housing starts in 1972, but the

decrease in nonmetro areas was not as

great as in metro areas. Nonmetro housing

starts remained stronger than metro starts

through the slump of 1974 and 1975 and for

the partial recovery of the next 3 years.

Between 1978 and 1981, housing starts

changed at about the same rates in metro

areas and nonmetro areas, but then in 1982

metro housing starts began to outpace

nonmetro starts (Bureau of the Census).

Metro Outpaces Nonmetro in

Housing Starts

1 973 — 1 00

140

120

100

80-

60-

40 -

20

0

Me tro

— — — Nonmetro

1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983
Single conventional units were the most

popular type home, comprising 61.4 percent

of the metro housing built between 1970

and 1981 and 72.4 percent of nonmetro

housing built. Single mobile units accounted

for 16.9 percent of the nonmetro housing increase during the seventies and 4.9 percent

of the metro housing increase. Occupied

housing increased 31.2 percent from 63.4

million units in 1970 to 83.2 million in 1981.

Nonmetro units increased 35.3 percent to

26.5 milhon units while metro units increased 29.2 percent to 56.7 million units

(table 10).

80

r c e n t

Conventional Single-unit Housing

is Most Popular

Metro

60

40

20

Housing

type

1981

Housing

built

1970-1981

Housing

type

1981

^Multiple

units (2

or more in

structure)

Q Single

unit

(Mobile)

Single

unit

(Convent ional)

Housing

built

1970-1981

27
Pe r ce n t

of all

occup i ed

housing

units

Nonmetro People are More Likely to

Uve In Inadequate Housing

onmet ro

Q 1981

^ 1970

Total Black Hispanic Hispanic

The nonmetro population is more often inadequately housed

(housing that lacks complete plumbing or is crowded) than is the

metro population. Despite vast improvements in housing between

1970 and 1981, inadequate housing still comprised 4.9 percent of

all metro housing and 7.9 percent of all nonmetro housing in

1981. The black population was twice as likely as the total

population to be inadequately housed in metro counties, and four

times more likely in nonmetro counties, where inadequate housing for blacks declined from 58.3 percent in 1970 to 29 percent in

1981. Metro Hispanics were more likely than blacks to live in inadequate housing in 1981 (table 9).

Mobile Homes Concentrated In

Nonmetro Areas

Pe r c e n t

of all

occupied

h ou 3 i n g

units

0 1981

^ 1970

10 1 Metro Nonmetro

Black Hispanic Black Hispanic

About 60 percent of the Nation's mobile homes were located in

nonmetro counties in 1981 where they represented 8.7 percent of

the housing. Their use has greatly increased in nonmetro

America, especially for blacks and Hispanics. Mobile homes

represented 2.8 percent of all metro housing in 1981. Very few

blacks and Hispanics occupied mobile homes in metro America

(tables 9 and 10).

28
Pe rcen t

Owner-occupied Homes More Prevalent in

Nonmetro Areas

Total Black Hispanic Total Black Hispanic

Seventy-four percent of the householders in nonmetro areas

owned their homes, compared with less than 62 percent in metro

areas. Home ownership was also more prevalent in nonmetro

areas among black and Hispanic householders; however, these

minority householders were less likely than others to own their

homes. Proportionately more householders owned their homes in

1981 than in 1970 except for Hispanic families. With the exception of Hispanics, the percentage of owner-occupied households

increased faster in nonmetro areas than in metro areas (table 9).

Rents are Increasing Faster Than

Renter Income

Nonmet ro

Q 1981

^1970

Hispanic Hispanic

Rent increased faster than renter incomes between 1970 and

1981. Metro renters paid an average of 28 percent of their income for rent (including utilities expense) compared with 25 percent for average nonmetro renters. The rates of increase were

similar for different renter groups, except for metro Hispanics

whose rent as a percentage of income increased 50 percent during 1970-81. Hispanic renters in metro counties spent 31 percent

of their incomes for rent while black renters in nonmetro counties spent 28 percent (table 9).

29
Government

Local governments' dependence on aid from Federal and State revenues

varies widely, with some depending more on Federal sources and others

depending heavily on State revenues to finance local expenditures. Local

government reliance on Federal and State revenues is greatest in the

Eastern and South Central States. Aid dependency is also high for local

governments in New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but these areas

receive a high percentage of their revenues through State aid. In contrast, local governments rely less on intergovernmental aid in New

England, the Plains States, and the Rocky Mountain Region. Low aid

dependencies are especially evident for local governments in New Hampshire, Vermont, South Dakota, and Nebraska where State aid is minimal.

Charts in this section show that:

• Expenditures and revenues of local governments are climbing more

rapidly in nonmetro areas than in metro areas.

• Local government employment shows the same trend.

• Local governments in nonmetro areas are more dependent on Federal

and State aid as sources of revenue, reflecting their greater vulnerability to aid cutbacks.

30
Percent of Local Revenues From Federal and

State Sources, 1977

Percent

Under 25

25 - 39.7

39,8 - 54.9

55 and above

Bureau of the Census

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

31
Government Spending Increases Faster

In Nonmetro Areas

Local govarn me n t

expenditures

Local revenue fr

all sources

=apita. 1972 constant dollars0 is^y^ 1972

Non me tro

Local government expenditures and revenues in nonmetro areas

increased twice as fast as in metro areas during 1972-77. The

more rapid nonmetro population growth creating greater increases in demands on nonmetro governments contributed to the

fast growth in government spending and receipts (table 11).

Local Government Employment Climbing More

Rapidly In Nonmetro Areas

Qmploy«3s per

1.000 populati

1 977

1 972

Local government employment also increased faster in nonmetro

areas (table 11).

32
Local governments in nonmetro areas had

substantially less outstanding debt per

capita than their metro counterparts in both

1972 and 1977. They also exhibited less

revenue effort in both years and remained

more dependent upon intergovernmental aid

(43 percent) than local governments in

metro areas (39.6 percent) in 1977. This

greater aid dependency suggests greater

vulnerability to aid cutbacks for local

governments in nonmetro America (table 11).

Local Governments In Nonmetro Areas are

More Vulnerable to Aid Cutbacks

Outstanding debt

per capita.

1972 constant doliaravenue effort (revenue

from own sources

aa a percentage of

personal income)

Intergovern me n

dependency (Fed

State aid as a p

of total local

tal aid

eral and

e rcentage

revenue)

P e r c e n t

1 O n

^

Non me tro Non me tro Non me tro

33
Source Tables

Table 1—Population growth

Year United States Metro Nonmetro

Total: MiHion

1960 179.3 127.2 52.1

1970 203.3 148.9 54.4

1980 226.5 163.5 63.0

Change— Percent

1960-70 13.4 17.0 4.4

1970-80 11.4 9.8 15.8

Black: Million

1960 18.9 13.4 5.5

1970 22.6 17.5 5.1

1980 26.5 21.0 5.5

Change— Percent

1960-70 20.0 30.8 -5.9

1970-80 16.8 19.9 6.4

Híspanles 1/ Million

1980 14.6 12.5 2.1

1/ Hispanics may be of any race.

Source: U.S. Census of Population.

35
Table 2—Farm population and selected demographic characteristics of the total population

United States Metro Nonmetro

Item

Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/

Farm population: 2/

1973 (old definition)

1982 (old definition)

1982 (current definition)

9.5

6.9

5.6

0.6

.2

.2

NA

0.2

1.0

1.7

1.4

.9

Million

3/

3/

3/

NA

3/

3/

7.7

5.5

4.6

0.6

.2

.1

NA

0.1

.1

Total population:

Median family income:

1973

1982

12.051

23,433

7,269

13,599

8,715

16,228

12,961

25,423

Dollars

7,779

14,508

NA

16.339

10,366

20,100

5,780

11,532

NA

15,510

Percentage of persons in

poverty:

1973

1982

11.1

15.0

31.4

35.6

21.9

29.9

9.7

13.7

Percent

28.2

33.5

20.3

29.7

14.0

17.8

41.1

42.3

29.1

31.2

Age:

Median age—

1974

1982

28,8

30.5

23.0

25.3

20.4

23.8

28.7

30.5

Years

23.3

25.5

21.0

24,1

29.2

30.9

22.3

24.6

17.7

22.1

Percentage of population

65 years and over—

1974

1982

9.9

11.2

7.1

7.9

3.5

4.4

9.2

10.4

Percent

6.2

7.0

3.5

4.3

11.4

12.7

9.8

10.8

3.5

4.7

14-64 years—

1973

1982

66.7

67.8

61.9

65.1

60.0

65.5

66.6

69.0

62.8

66.2

61.0

65.8

63.9

65.5

59.2

61.2

55.5

64.0

NA = Not available.

1/ Hispanics may be of any race. u« u * A^A

2/ In the Current Population Survey, the farm population as currently defined constets of all persons living in rural territory on places from which $1,000 or

more of agricultural products were sold, or normally would have been sold in the reporting year. Under the old definition, the farm population consisted of all

persons living in rural territory on places of 10 or more acres if at least $50 worth of agricultural products were sold from the place in the preceding year. It

also included those living on places of under 10 acres if at least $250 worth of agricultural products were sold.

3/ Fewer than 50,000.

Source: Current Population Survey, Bureau of the Census.

36
Table 3—Household size and welfare program participation

United States Metro Nonmetro

Item

Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/

Households: Number

Persons per household—

1973 3.01 3.40 NA 3.01 3.33 NA 3.03 3.62 NA

1982 2.72 2.99 3.49 2.70 2.91 3.46 2.76 3.28 3.64

Percentage of households

headed by women, no husband Percent

present—

1973 22.6 39.3 NA 23.6 40.3 NA 20.3 35.6 NA

1982 26.9 44.4 26.5 28.3 45.5 27.8 23.9 40.9 18.6

Program participation, 1980: 2/

Percentage of the population

receiving supplemental

security income 1.83 NA NA 1.64 NA NA 2.33 NA NA

Percentage of the population

receiving aid to families

with dependent children 4.57 NA NA 4.89 NA NA 3.66 NA NA

Percentage of population

receiving food stamps 9.05 NA NA 8.64 NA NA 10.20 NA NA

NA = Not available.

1/ Hispanics may be of any race.

2/ Metro delineation is for 1979. Ten States have no county data on food stamp participation and are excluded from these calculations.

Source: SSI and AFDC data were provided by Social Security Admin. Food stamp data were provided by the Food and Nutrition Serv., U.S. Dept. Agr. Food stamp

data exclude Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming because those States do

not report on a county basis.

37
Table 4—Structure of employment

United States Metro Nonmetro

Item 1973 1982 1973 1982 1973 1982

Thousands Pet Thousands Pet Thousands Pet Thousands Pet Thousands Pet Thousands Pet

Total employed 84,459 100.0 99,526 100.0 58,369 100.0 69,192 100.0 26,091 100.0 30,335 100.0

Total wage and salary workers 76,280 90.3 89,967 90.4 54,242 92.9 63,983 92.5 22,038 84.4 25,986 85.7

Agriculture 1/ 1,288 1.5 1,549 1.6 433 .7 577 .8 856 3.3 973 3.2

Mining 623 .7 989 1.0 252 .4 468 .7 370 1.4 521 1.7

Construction 4,167 4.9 4,134 4.2 2.783 4.8 2,812 4.1 1.384 5.3 1.323 4.4

Manufacturing 20,506 24.3 19,756 19.9 14,125 24.2 13,645 19.7 6,381 24.5 6.111 20.1

Transportation, communications, and public utilities 4,558 5.4 5.408 5.4 3,411 5.8 3.960 5.7 1,147 4.4 1,449 4.8

Wholesale and retail trade 14,801 17.5 18,596 18.7 10,766 18.4 13,405 19.4 4,035 15.5 5.191 17.1

Finance, insurance, and real

estate 4,107 4.9 5,631 5.7 3,317 5.7 4,541 6.6 790 3.0 1,090 3.6

Private household workers 1,551 1.8 1,207 1.2 973 1.7 778 1.1 578 2.2 429 1.4

Services 11,128 13.2 17,179 17.3 8,729 15.0 13,325 19.3 2,399 9.2 3,854 12.7

Government 13,551 16.0 15,516 15.6 9,453 16.2 10,472 15.1 4,098 15.7 5,045 16.6

Self-employed workers 7,229 8.6 8,898 8.9 3,766 6.5 4,937 7.1 3,463 13.3 3,961 13.1

Agriculture 1,786 2.1 1,636 1.6 360 .6 383 .6 1,426 5.5 1,253 4.1

Nonaghculture 5,443 6.4 7,262 7.3 3,406 5.8 4,554 6.6 2.036 7.8 2,708 8.9

Unpaid family workers 950 1.1 661 .7 360 .6 274 .4 590 2.3 388 1.3

Agriculture 418 .5 261 .3 62 .1 47 .1 356 1.4 213 .7

Nonagriculture 533 .6 401 .4 299 .5 226 .3 234 .9 174 .6

1/ Includes forestry and fisheriesSource: Current Population Survey, Bureau of the Census.

38
Table 5—Labor force and employment growth

United States Metro Nonmetro

Item

Total Blacks ^^

Hispanics

2/ Total Blacks ^^

Hispanics

2/ Total Blacks ""^

Hispanics

2/

Civilian labor force:

Male—

1973

1982

54.239

62,450

5.588

7,317

1.904

3,601

37,356

42,995

Thousands

4,311

5,754

Percent

1,585

3,050

16,883

19,455

1.257

1.563

320

552

Growth. 1973-82 15.1 30.9 89.1 15.1 33.5 92.4 15.2 24.3 72.5

Female—

1973

1982

34,591

47,755

4,484

6,745

1,070

2,382

24,173

33,469

Thousands

3,538

5,347

Percent

905

2,065

10,418

14,285

947

1,398

165

316

Growth, 1973-82 38.1 50.4 122.6 38.5 51.1 128.2 37.1 47.6 91.5

Labor force participation:

Male—

1973

1982

Female—

1973

1982

78.9

76.6

44.8

52.6

73.9

71.0

49.3

53.9

81.6

80.1

40.8

48.6

79.6

77.5

45.4

53.9

74.4

71.7

50.1

55.2

82.0

80.1

41.5

49.1

77.4

74.7

43.5

49.8

72.3

68.3

46.5

49.5

79.6

79.9

37.3

45.7

Total employment:

Male—

1973

1982

51.981

56,271

5,136

5,983

1,778

3,111

35,712

38.788

Thousands

3,960

4,704

Percent

1,481

2,631

16.268

17,483

1,176

1.279

297

481

Growth, 1973-82 8.3 16.5 75.0 8.6 18.8 77.7 7.5 8.8 62.0

Female

1973

1982

32.478

43.256

4.005

5,641

974

2,047

22,656

30.404

Thousands

3,174

4,508

Percent

827

1,784

9,822

12,852

831

1,133

147

263

Growth. 1973-82 33.2 40.8 110.2 34.2 42.0 115.7 30.8 36.3 78.9

1/ Blacks and other minorities.

2/ Hispanics may be of any race.

Source: Current Population Survey, Bureau of the Census.

39
Table 6—Hired farmworkers and worker-days Table 7—Hired farmworkers by primary employment status and race, 1981

Number of hired farmworkers Worker-days worked

Characteristics Total Whites

Year Regular and _ Regular and

Casual Seasonal year-round Casual Seasonal year-round

Hispanics

Blacks and

others

Thousands

1960 1,531 1,333 828

1961 1,600 1,203 685

1962 1,555 1,341 726

1963 1,735 1,163 699

1964 1,369 1,337 664

1965 1,264 1,204 667

1966 1,130 1,056 578

1967 1,338 1,065 674

1968 1,299 1,039 580

1969 1,106 976 490

1970 1,093 916 478

1971 1,191 861 498

1972 1,130 1,024 655

1973 1,085 918 668

1974 1,169 927 641

1975 1,180 875 583

1976 1,145 999 623

1977 1,056 989 686

1978 1/ 977 992 722

1979 898 995 758

1980 1/ 934 922 717

1981 969 848 675

Million days

15 85 218

16 72 181

16 84 193

16 78 179

13 86 172

11 77 179

10 67 168

13 68 180

14 66 153

10 58 135

10 59 132

11 51 133

11 67 169

10 62 182

11 61 167

12 59 153

11 67 160

10 64 180

9 64 190

8 64 207

9 60 189

9 57 178

1/ Surveys not conducted in 1978 and 1980. Data interpolated.

Source: The Hired Farm Working Force Survey of 1981, U.S. Dept. Agr., Econ. Res. Serv.

Percent

Primary employment

status:

Hired farmwork 28 22

Nonfarm work 17 19

Not in labor force

All 48 51

Attending school 34 40

52

12

32

12

39

9

47

24

Source: The Hired Farm Working Force Survey of 1981, U.S. Dept. Agr., Econ. Res. Serv.

40
Table 8—Selected characteristics of the poor

Item

United States

1973 1982 1973

Metro

1982

Nonmetro

1973 1982

Million

Total poor 1/

People in families with a female

householder, no husband present 2/

People in all other familes 2/

Blacks

Hispanics 3/

Aged

Percentage of the poor who are: 1/

People in families with a female

householder, no husband present 2/

People in all other families 2/

Blacks

Hispanics 3/

Aged

Poverty rates for total population

People in families with a female

householder, no husband present 2/

People in ail other families 2/

Blacks

Hispanics 3/

Aged

Percentage of poor householders who

worked 2/ 4/

Percentage of poor householders who

worked full-time 2/ 4/ 5/

Percentage of poor familes with: 2/ 6/

No workers

One worker

Two or more workers

23.0 34.4 13.8 21.2 9.2 13.2

8.2 11.7 6.0 8.2 2.2 3.5

10.1 15.6 4.8 8.4 5.3 7.3

7.4 9.7 5.0 6.9 2.4 2.8

2.4 4.3 1.8 3.7 .6 .6

3.4 3.8 1.7

Percent

2.1 1.7 1.7

35.6 34.0 43.3 38.8 24.1 26.3

44.1 45.5 35.1 39.4 57.5 55.4

32.2 28.2 36.3 32.5 25.9 21.3

10.3 12.5 12.9 17.2 6.3 4.9

14.6 10.9 12.1 9.7 18.4 12.8

11.1 15.0 9.7 13.7 14.0 17.8

37.5 40.6 36.9 39.4 39.2 43.7

6.0 9.1 4.3 7.4 9.6 12.6

31.4 35.6 28.2 33.5 41.1 42.3

21.9 29.9 20.3 29.7 29.1 31.2

16.3 14.6 12.7 12.6 22.5 18.0

51.6 48.8 47.6 43.5 57„3 57.3

18.3 15.8 15.5 12.0 22.2 21.7

38.1 40.5 42.4 45.8 32.1 32.3

41.9 38.3 42.0 37.5 41.8 39.6

20.0 21.1 15.7 16.7 26.1 28.1

1/ The numbers of poor in the various groups sum to more than the total number of poor because an individual may be In more than one group. Similarly,

the percentages in the groups sum to more than 100 percent.

2/ The 1982 family data are based on the recently introduced "householder" concept while the 1973 family data are based on the older "head" concept.

Changing from the head to the householder concept had minor effects on poverty statistics. Also, families exclude unrelated individuals who do not live with

relatives. Therefore, the poor living in the two family types do not add up to the total poor.

3/ Hispanics may be of any race.

4/ Restricted to families with civilian householders.

5/ Full-time work is defined here as working at least 35 hours per week for at least 50 weeks per year.

6/The 1973 data include families whose householders are in the armed forces. The 1982 data exclude such families.

Source: Current Population Survey, Bureau of the Census.

41
Table 9—Housing characteristics

United States Metro Non metro

Housing characteristic

Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/ Total Blacks

Hispanics

1/

Thousands

Occupied housing units:

1970 63,446 6,174 2.252 43,859 4,739 1,893 19,586 1,435 360

1981 83,175 9,010 4,328 56,681 7,060 3,610 26,494 1.950 718

Inadequate housing:

Crowded and/or lacking Percent of occupied units

complete plumbing—

1970 12.4 30.6 29.8 10.0 22.3 28.3 17.8 58.3 37.2

1981 5.8 13.8 19.3 4.9 9.6 18.3 7.9 29.0 24.6

Lacking plumbing— 2/

1970 5.5 16.2 6.6 2.9 6.7 4.8 11.4 47.9 15.8

1981 2.1 6.0 2.3 1.1 2.1 1.7 4.3 20.0 5.0

Crowded— 3/

1970 8.0 19.4 25.7 7.5 17.2 25.3 9.0 26.6 27.8

1981 40 8.8 17.6 3.9 7.8 16.9 4.1 12.4 21.2

Crowded with all plumbing—

1970 6.9 14.4 23.2 7.1 15.6 23.5 6.4 10.4 21.4

1981 3.7 7.8 17.0 3.8 7.5 16.5 3.6 9.0 19.6

Mobile homes:

1970 3.3 .8 1.5 2.1 .3 .9 5.8 2.3 4.4

1981 4.7 2.2 2.2 2.8 .6 1.2 8.7 7,5 7.6

Housing cost:

Ratio of median value of

owner-occupied homes to Value/income ratio

median family income—

1970 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.5

1981 2.5 2.2 2.6 2.5 2.2 2.8 2.3 2.4 2.0

Gross rent as percentage of Percent

income:

1970 20.0 23.0 20.0 21.0 23.0 20.0 19.0 21.0 19.0

1981 27.0 29.0 30.0 28.0 29.0 31.0 25.0 28.0 24.0

Tenure (percentage of units

owner-occupied):

1970 62.9 41.6 43.5 59.5 38.5 40.5 70.4 51.7 59.2

1981 65.3 43.4 41.9 61.4 39.5 39.3 73.8 57.6 55,0

1/ Hispanics may be of any race.

2/ Units lack one or more of the following: hot and cold piped water, bath or shower, or flush toilet.

3/ More than one person per room.

Source; Annual Housing Survey, Bureau of the Census.

42
Table 10—Housing units, by structure Table 11—Indicators of local governmental stress

Housing type and area 1970 1981 Growth 1970-81

Percent

Thous. Thous. of total Thous. Percent

Metro:

Single (conventional) 27,999 35,873 63.3 7,874 61.4

Single (mobile) 933 1,563 2.8 630 4.9

Multiple (2 or more units) 14,928 19,245 33.9 4,317 33.7

Total 1/ 43,859 56,681 100.0 12,822 100.0

Nonmetro:

Single (conventional) 16,042 21,043 79.4 5,001 72.4

Single (mobile) 1,141 2,308 8.7 1,167 16.9

Multiple (2 or more units) 2,404 3,143 11.9 739 10.7

Total 1/ 19.586 26,495 100.0 6.909 100.0

1/ Columns may not add to total due to rounding.

Source: Annual Housing Survey, Bureau of the Census.

Indicator

United

States 1/ Metro Nonmetro

Total expenditures

per capita:

1972 559

Dollars 2/

613 417

1977 591 640 463

Change

Revenue from own sources

32 27 46

per capita:

1972 353 391 251

1977 357 392 265

Change

Employment (full-time

equiv.) per 1,000 people:

1972

4

32.4

1

Number

33.1

14

30.7

1977 36.0 36.3 35.0

Change

Revenue effort (revenue

from own sources as a

3.6 3.2 4.3

percentage of income):

1972 7.9

Percent

8.1 7.0

1977 7.6 7.8 6.9

Outstanding debt

per capita:

1972 580

Dollars 2/

656 379

1977 521 590 341

Intergovernmental aid

dependency (Federal and

State aid as a percentage

of total local revenue):

1972 36.2

Percent

34.0 39.5

1977 41.0 39.0 43.0

1/ U.S. totals do not exactly match published data because of rounding errors and minor

discrepancies between published Census data and Census data tapes from which these

figures were computed.

2/1972 constant dollars.

Source: Census of Government, 1972 and 1977, Bureau of the Census.

43