Nonmetropolitan Outmigration Counties: Some are Poor, Many are Prosperous

35 Pages Posted: 19 Nov 2010

See all articles by David A. McGranahan

David A. McGranahan

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

John Cromartie

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Timothy R. Wojan

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Date Written: November 1, 2010

Abstract

Population loss through net outmigration is endemic to many rural areas. Over a third of nonmetro counties lost at least 10 percent of their population through net outmigration over 1988-2008. Some of these counties have had very high poverty rates, substantial loss in manufacturing jobs, and high unemployment. Lack of economic opportunity was likely a major factor in their high outmigration. Most high net outmigration counties, however, are relatively prosperous, with low unemployment rates, low high school dropout rates, and average household incomes. For these counties, low population density and less appealing landscapes distinguish them from other nonmetro counties. Both types of outmigration counties stand out on two measures, indicating that quality-of-life factors inhibit inmigration: a lack of retirees moving in and local manufacturers citing the area’s unattractiveness as a problem in recruiting managers and professionals.

Keywords: Migration, Net Migration, Rural Development, Life-Cycle Migration, Population Growth, Nonmetropolitan, Nonmetro, Rural Economy, Metro, Rural America, Census Data, Population Growth, Demographics, ERS, USDA

Suggested Citation

McGranahan, David A. and Cromartie, John and Wojan, Timothy R., Nonmetropolitan Outmigration Counties: Some are Poor, Many are Prosperous (November 1, 2010). USDA-ERS Economic Research Report No. 107, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1711309 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1711309

David A. McGranahan (Contact Author)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5356 (Phone)

John Cromartie

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
(202) 694-5421 (Phone)

Timothy R. Wojan

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States

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