More Poor Kids in More Poor Places: Children Increasingly Live Where Poverty Persists

This new brief released by the Carsey Institute suggests that contrary to popular belief, child poverty is not just an urban problem, but is widespread and has persisted for generations in some parts of the country, particularly rural areas.

More Poor Kids in More Poor Places: Children Increasingly Live Where Poverty Persists finds that 706 U.S. counties experienced persistent high child poverty—defined as rates greater than 20 percent—between 1980 and 2009. Nearly 26 percent of all rural children live in these counties compared with 12 percent of urban children. In addition to high unemployment and low education levels, the physical and social isolation associated with rural poverty create problems different from those in urban areas. The brief suggests policy changes, such as expansion of government health insurance and education reform, to address the unique challenges poor rural children face.