In 1990, our nation became the first in history to have more suburbanites than city and rural dwellers combined. In a historic reversal, Americans are moving back to the country. New research by two prominent rural demographers finds that most rural areas of the country are growing at their fastest rate in more than two decades. Although metropolitan areas have had a 5.8 percent increase over the same period, the gap has shrunk considerably from the 1980s when metropolitan areas were increasing four times faster than rural ones. Using Census Bureau data, the researchers found the greatest growth in counties that are attracting retirees and others in search of recreation such as those in the Western mountains, Upper Great Lakes, the Ozarks and other parts of the South.
Some rural migrants maintain their jobs in nearby cities by commuting and telecommuting.
Some 90 percent of counties with a large portion of commuters are growing. In 1970, children under 18 outnumbered adults 50 and over by 70 million to 50 million. By 2010, there are expected to be 96 million Americans 50 and above, versus 74 million youth. Yet Medicare is projected to go bankrupt by 2001 unless it is changed. And Social Security will start running deficits by 2013 and go bankrupt by 2029.