Community resilience is also at risk. The capacities of community-based systems designed to ensure the quality of life of North Carolina's youth and families are being stretched beyond their capacities. Research findings indicate many systems are unable to respond to constituency needs. North Carolina is becoming more urban, a trend similar to the rest of the nation. Today, more than half of North Carolinians live in urban areas and this percentage is expected to increase.
Rural counties are experiences slower growth.
At the same time North Carolina's population is becoming more diverse. The number of senior citizens has grown rapidly and will continue to increase. By 2020 approximately one in every six residents will be 65 years of age and over. Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and other minorities are among the fastest growing segments of American society. In NC minorities already compose one quarter of the total population, so this growth-rate has been slower than other states.