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Nonmetro population rebound continues and broadens.
Rural Conditions and Trends
|January 1, 1996
Summary
The U.S. nonmetropolitan population saw significant growth in the 1990s, with a third of counties growing faster than the national average. This trend reversed previous population decline in many rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Demographics
- Rural Sociology
- Population Geography
Background:
- Historically, nonmetropolitan (non-U.S.) counties experienced population decline.
- The 1990s marked a significant shift in this demographic trend.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze population changes in U.S. nonmetropolitan counties during the 1990s.
- To identify patterns and drivers of nonmetropolitan population growth.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of U.S. county-level population data from 1990-1995.
- Comparison of nonmetropolitan growth rates against national averages and regional trends.
Main Results:
- A substantial net influx of people into nonmetropolitan areas occurred.
- One-third of nonmetropolitan counties exhibited growth rates exceeding the national average.
- These growing counties accounted for three-fourths of total nonmetropolitan population increase.
- Population growth was notably faster in the Western region compared to other major regions.
Conclusions:
- The 1990s witnessed a reversal of population decline in many U.S. nonmetropolitan counties.
- Regional disparities in growth exist, with the West showing the strongest nonmetropolitan population increase.