Spatial and Temporal Examination of Counties in Persistent Poverty

Keywords: Poverty, County, American Community Survey (ACS), Census Region, Census Division
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 45

Abstract

Research has suggested that higher poverty areas experience more acute systemic problems than lower poverty areas. Government agencies and researchers have identified counties that have had high rates of poverty over a long period of time. These counties in persistent poverty (defined as greater than 20 percent poverty rate) are often targeted for increased levels of support. Several different government agencies have identified counties using a variety of different time spans.

This project seeks to expand the current literature in this area by incorporating the most recent 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) poverty estimates. We identified counties that currently experience persistent poverty and identify broader trends when outcome is compared to different time periods.
We identified counties with high poverty rates using recent data (2019 ACS 5-Year Estimates) as well as those that were in persistent poverty from 1990 to 2019. This is compared with identified persistent poverty counties from different periods (1980-2010) and with the use of alternative datasets such as Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). Counties with higher than 25 and 30 percent poverty rates are also analyzed both in spatial and temporal methods. The percentage of population that live in persistent poverty counties in specific geographic spaces was analyzed along with broader spatial patterns as poverty was not evenly distributed throughout the nation. Persistent poverty was also looked at within the spatial context of census regions and divisions. Counties that had persistently high poverty rates were more likely to be in certain regions and divisions.