There is a deepening sense of fear as population loss accelerates in rural America. The decline of small-town life is expected to be a looming topic in the presidential election.

…

America’s rural population began contracting about a decade ago, according to statistics drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau.

A whopping 81 percent of rural counties had more deaths than births between 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis by a University of New Hampshire demographer. Experts who study the phenomena say the shrinking baby boomer population and younger residents having smaller families and moving elsewhere for jobs are fueling the trend.

According to a recent Agriculture Department estimate, the rural population did rebound by 0.25 percent from 2020 to 2022 as some families decamped from urban areas during the pandemic.

But demographers say they are still evaluating whether that trend will continue, and if so, where. Pennsylvania has been particularly afflicted. Job losses in the manufacturing and energy industries that began in the 1980s prompted many younger families to relocate to Sun Belt states. The relocations helped fuel population surges in places like Texas and Georgia. But here, two-thirds of the state’s 67 counties have experienced a drop in population in recent years.

Non-paywall link

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    This rural Pennsylvania town could get a huge population boom if they had a “we welcome queer people and migrants and we don’t tolerate hate” policy they announced to the world.

    But of course, that’s way too far for them.

    • kungen@feddit.nu
      0·
      5 months ago

      I don’t think rural towns are depopulating due to hate or discrimination… it’s mostly because of job prospects, no?

      • Confused_Emus@lemmy.world
        0·
        5 months ago

        Obviously my own experience is entirely anecdotal, but I think relevant to the point. I work 100% remotely, I just need a decent Internet connection. I currently live in a moderately sized city, and keeping up with the finances can be a struggle compared to the lower cost of rural living. However, I’m also a gay man, pro choice, I don’t care what two or more consenting adults do in the privacy of their home, etc. etc. etc. with all the usual liberal stuff.

        The job prospects aren’t why I left the rural southeastern US, and they aren’t the reason I’ll never go back there.

        These people were warned about the brain drain their bullshit would cause. I have no sympathy for them or their towns’ dwindling tax revenues.

        • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemm.eeEnglish
          0·
          5 months ago

          I don’t care what two or more consenting adults do in the privacy of their home, etc. etc. etc.

          So they can put what drugs they want in their own body?

          with all the usual liberal stuff.

          Oh, never mind.