Rural America gets even more sparsely populated

[Liberal_in_LA]

Rural America gets even more sparsely populated
Most thinly populated counties in the U.S. continued to lose residents in the last decade, new census data show.


Reporting from Los Angeles and Atlanta — The majority of the nation's sparsely populated rural counties lost even more residents in the last decade, though some of the counties — particularly those in the Mountain West — saw population gains that may be the result of retirees striking out for areas that are both scenic and affordable, according to a Times analysis of figures released by the Census Bureau on Tuesday.

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But growth in rural America is the exception. A different story is unfolding in places like Lane County, Kan., a wheat- and corn-growing area in the central-west portion of the state that lost 23% of its population — the 11th greatest population loss in the nation among rural counties.

"We're just a small community and there are no jobs, and they're just moving to find other jobs," said April Berry, 35, a cook at the Frigid Creme diner in downtown Dighton, the county seat, in a phone interview Tuesday night.

Berry said the loss was palpable in the sleepy downtown, where in the last few years, a jeweler and florist closed up shop. Now, she said, locals have to drive 55 miles to Garden City just to get to flowers or jewels, or even find a Wal-Mart.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rural-census-20101215,0,2084635.story

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I think you need to brush up on the Constitution and try again

[strategery blunder]

3. He's right. It's called the Senate. nt

[T Wolf]

4. New York state has two senators. Farmland in Iowa has two senators. nt

[Name removed]

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[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Then why did you refer to Congress, where they are far from equal?

Your knowledge of US Civics is clearly flawed

[Name removed]

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[MadHound]

7. First off, we're not "rubes" out here.

We're people, just like you. Oh, one other thing for you to remember, the folks out here provide you with the food you eat. No farmers, no food, got it?

Second of all, I suggest that you reread your Constitution. Representation in the House is based on population, representation in the Senate is divided equally. You don't like it, tough shit, because I doubt it will be changed. You are fighting a battle that was decided over two hundred years ago.

[MicaelS]

9. Oooh, I see.....

So the "Tyranny of the Majority" is just fine, as long as said Majority is in the Big Cities, right? :sarcasm: :puke:

[delightfulstar]

8. I actually lived in KS for a couple years...

And boy, are parts of that state deserted. You can drive on I-70 for miles and miles and not even see so much as a farm. I'm a city girl, and just couldn't take it anymore. Suffice to say, Sprawl Mart probably had a little something to do with some of the mom-and-pop places going under too, because people out there don't think twice about driving 50 miles to one of those Godawful stores.

[smiley]

11. i can't stand snarkiness

and it's blatant in this thread.

yawn