THE APPALACHIAN REGION IN 2010: A CENSUS DATA OVERVIEW Chartbook

Transcription

1 THE APPALACHIAN REGION IN 2010: A CENSUS DATA OVERVIEW Chartbook Kelvin Pollard Linda A. Jacobsen Population Reference Bureau Prepared for the Appalachian Regional Commission Under Contract #CO September 2011 The authors wish to thank David Carrier and Keith Witt of ARC for their support and guidance.

2 THE APPALACHIAN REGION IN 2010: A CENSUS DATA OVERVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER 1. POPULATION BASICS Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, Figure 1.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region, Figure 1.3: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, CHAPTER 2. AGE Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, Table 2.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, CHAPTER 3. RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, Table 3.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, Figure 3.4: Change in the Black Alone, not Hispanic Population in the Appalachian Region, Figure 3.5: Change in the Hispanic or Latino Population in the Appalachian Region, CHAPTER 4. HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Table 4.2: Change in Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.5: Percent Change in Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.6: Percent Change in Vacant Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.7: Percent Change in Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Figure 4.8: Percent Change in Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, CHAPTER 5. EDUCATION Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, Figure 5.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, Figure 5.2: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor s Degree or More, CHAPTER 6. MIGRATION Table 6.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Moved in the Past Year, Figure 6.2: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their 35 County of Residence in the Past Year, Figure 6.3: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their 36 State of Residence in the Past Year,

3 CHAPTER 1: POPULATION BASICS Table 1.1: Population, Land Area, and Population Density in the Appalachian Region, 2010 Population, Change, and Density Population, 2010 Change since 2000 Number Percent Land area (square miles) Population per square mile of land area, 2010 United States 308,745,538 27,323, ,531, Appalachian Region 25,243,456 1,600, , Subregions Northern Appalachia 8,384,817-63, , North Central Appalachia 2,423, , , Central Appalachia 1,918,473 30, , South Central Appalachia 4,718, , , Southern Appalachia 7,798,620 1,109, , County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,772, , , Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,187, , , Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,696,846 69, , Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,046, , , Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,540,275 41, , Alabama 4,779, , , Appalachian Alabama 3,064, , , Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715, , , Georgia 9,687,653 1,501, , Appalachian Georgia 2,933, , , Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,754, , , Kentucky 4,339, , , Appalachian Kentucky 1,184,278 23, , Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,155, , , Maryland 5,773, , , Appalachian Maryland 252,614 15, , Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,520, , , Mississippi 2,967, , , Appalachian Mississippi 629,169 13, , Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,338, , , New York 19,378, , , Appalachian New York 1,066,421-6, , Non-Appalachian New York 18,311, , , North Carolina 9,535,483 1,486, , Appalachian North Carolina 1,698, , , Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,836,575 1,313, , Ohio 11,536, , , Appalachian Ohio 2,042,040 1, , Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494, , , Pennsylvania 12,702, , , Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,792,195-27, , Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910, , , South Carolina 4,625, , , Appalachian South Carolina 1,171, , , Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,453, , , Tennessee 6,346, , , Appalachian Tennessee 2,785, , , Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,560, , , Virginia 8,001, , , Appalachian Virginia 770,044 12, , Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,230, , , West Virginia (entire state) 1,852,994 44, , Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses. 2

4 Figure 1.1: Population Distribution in the Appalachian Region, 2010 Of the million Americans in 2010, 25.2 million lived in the Appalachian region. Yet the population size of Appalachia s 420 counties varied greatly. While two-thirds of the counties had populations of less than 50,000 people, there are pockets clustered in large and mid-sized metropolitan areas, including Pittsburgh, Birmingham, and the Atlanta suburbs. Allegheny County, Pa. (where Pittsburgh is located) had 1.2 million residents in

5 Figure 1.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region, Appalachia s 2010 population of 25.2 million was nearly 7 percent higher than it was in 2000, slightly lower than the nearly 10 percent growth rate for the United States as a whole. And in every Appalachian state except Alabama and Georgia, the part of the state outside the Appalachian region grew at a faster rate. Yet population change varied greatly within the region. On the one hand, one-third of the region s 420 counties lost population during the decade mostly in the northern and central counties, as well as in parts of Alabama and Mississippi. However, nearly one in four Appalachian counties grew at or above the national average. Most of the fastest-growing counties were in Southern and South Central Appalachia, although some counties in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia also experienced rapid growth. 4

6 Figure 1.3: Population per Square Mile of Land Area in the Appalachian Region, 2010 While Appalachia s population density is noticeably greater than that of the United States as a whole, less than half of the region s counties have population concentrations at or above the national average. Most of these are in metropolitan areas, both large (Pittsburgh, Birmingham, suburban Atlanta) and small (Winston-Salem, N.C; Knoxville, Tenn.). 5

7 CHAPTER 2: AGE Table 2.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, 2010 Total Percent of Population Population by Age Group Population, Under Age 2010 Ages Ages Ages 65 and over Median Age (Years) United States 308,745, Appalachian Region 25,243, Subregions Northern Appalachia 8,384, North Central Appalachia 2,423, Central Appalachia 1,918, South Central Appalachia 4,718, Southern Appalachia 7,798, County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,772, Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,187, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,696, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,046, Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,540, Alabama 4,779, Appalachian Alabama 3,064, Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715, Georgia 9,687, Appalachian Georgia 2,933, Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,754, Kentucky 4,339, Appalachian Kentucky 1,184, Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,155, Maryland 5,773, Appalachian Maryland 252, Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,520, Mississippi 2,967, Appalachian Mississippi 629, Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,338, New York 19,378, Appalachian New York 1,066, Non-Appalachian New York 18,311, North Carolina 9,535, Appalachian North Carolina 1,698, Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,836, Ohio 11,536, Appalachian Ohio 2,042, Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494, Pennsylvania 12,702, Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,792, Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910, South Carolina 4,625, Appalachian South Carolina 1,171, Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,453, Tennessee 6,346, Appalachian Tennessee 2,785, Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,560, Virginia 8,001, Appalachian Virginia 770, Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,230, West Virginia (entire state) 1,852, Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census. 6

8 Table 2.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region by Age Group, Change in Population by Age Group Under Age 18 Percent Change, Ages Ages Ages 65 and over United States Appalachian Region Subregions Northern Appalachia North Central Appalachia Central Appalachia South Central Appalachia Southern Appalachia County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) Small Metros (pop. <1 million) Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) Alabama Appalachian Alabama Non-Appalachian Alabama Georgia Appalachian Georgia Non-Appalachian Georgia Kentucky Appalachian Kentucky Non-Appalachian Kentucky Maryland Appalachian Maryland Non-Appalachian Maryland Mississippi Appalachian Mississippi Non-Appalachian Mississippi New York Appalachian New York Non-Appalachian New York North Carolina Appalachian North Carolina Non-Appalachian North Carolina Ohio Appalachian Ohio Non-Appalachian Ohio Pennsylvania Appalachian Pennsylvania Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania South Carolina Appalachian South Carolina Non-Appalachian South Carolina Tennessee Appalachian Tennessee Non-Appalachian Tennessee Virginia Appalachian Virginia Non-Appalachian Virginia West Virginia (entire state) Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses. 7

9 Figure 2.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Under Age 18, 2010 The percentage of children and youth in the Appalachian population is lower than the national average of 24 percent, with the share falling below 20 percent in nearly one-sixth of the region s counties (mostly outside metropolitan areas). Yet in nearly one in five Appalachian counties, the proportion of children under age 18 exceeds the national average. Most of these are in southern Appalachia. 8

10 Figure 2.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 18 to 24, 2010 The proportion of Appalachian residents ages 18 to 24 roughly equals the national average. But that is not the case in many parts of the region. In 122 counties (86 of which lie outside metropolitan areas), persons in the 18-to-24 age group make up less than 7.5 percent of the population, suggesting a possible lack of opportunities for youth making the transition to adulthood. In contrast, the young adult population exceeds 15 percent in several counties that house colleges and universities. 9

11 Figure 2.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 25 to 64, 2010 In both the United States and Appalachia, adults in the prime working ages (ages 25 to 64) make up a slight majority of all residents. In more than half of Appalachian counties, the percentage of persons in this age group exceeds the national average. But there are a handful of counties (mostly outside metropolitan areas) where 25- to 64-year-olds actually make up less than half of the population. 10

12 Figure 2.4: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region Ages 65 and Over, 2010 The Appalachian region as well as 373 of its 420 counties has a larger proportion of residents ages 65 and older than does the nation as a whole. In fact, older persons make up at least 15 percent of the population in three-fourths of Appalachia s counties. Most of the counties with older population shares below the national average either house colleges and universities or had growth rates that exceeded the national average. 11

13 Figure 2.5: Median Age of Persons in the Appalachian Region, 2010 On average, the Appalachian population is older than that of the United States as a whole more than two years older. In fact, the median age of the population (the point at which half the population is older and half is younger) is at least 40 years in two-thirds of the region s counties. In one in 10 Appalachian counties, the median age is at least 45 years. Most of the relatively few counties with populations younger than the national average are in southern Appalachia. 12

14 CHAPTER 3: RACE AND HISPANIC ORIGIN Table 3.1: Population in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2010 Population by Race and Hispanic Origin Total Population, 2010 White Alone, Not Hispanic 13 Total Percent of Population Minority Black Alone, Not Hispanic Hispanic or Latino Other, Not Hispanic United States 308,745, Appalachian Region 25,243, Subregions Northern Appalachia 8,384, North Central Appalachia 2,423, Central Appalachia 1,918, South Central Appalachia 4,718, Southern Appalachia 7,798, County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,772, Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 10,187, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,696, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 5,046, Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,540, Alabama 4,779, Appalachian Alabama 3,064, Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,715, Georgia 9,687, Appalachian Georgia 2,933, Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,754, Kentucky 4,339, Appalachian Kentucky 1,184, Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,155, Maryland 5,773, Appalachian Maryland 252, Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,520, Mississippi 2,967, Appalachian Mississippi 629, Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,338, New York 19,378, Appalachian New York 1,066, Non-Appalachian New York 18,311, North Carolina 9,535, Appalachian North Carolina 1,698, Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,836, Ohio 11,536, Appalachian Ohio 2,042, Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,494, Pennsylvania 12,702, Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,792, Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,910, South Carolina 4,625, Appalachian South Carolina 1,171, Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,453, Tennessee 6,346, Appalachian Tennessee 2,785, Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,560, Virginia 8,001, Appalachian Virginia 770, Non-Appalachian Virginia 7,230, West Virginia (entire state) 1,852, Other includes these racial groups: (a) American Indian and Alaska Native alone; (b) Asian alone; (c) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone; (d) Some other race alone; and (e) Two or more races. Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census.

15 Table 3.2: Population Change in the Appalachian Region by Race and Hispanic Origin, Change by Race and Hispanic Origin White Alone, Not Hispanic Total Percent Change, Minority Black Alone, Not Hispanic Hispanic or Latino Other, Not Hispanic United States Appalachian Region Subregions Northern Appalachia North Central Appalachia Central Appalachia South Central Appalachia Southern Appalachia County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) Small Metros (pop. <1 million) Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) Alabama Appalachian Alabama Non-Appalachian Alabama Georgia Appalachian Georgia Non-Appalachian Georgia Kentucky Appalachian Kentucky Non-Appalachian Kentucky Maryland Appalachian Maryland Non-Appalachian Maryland Mississippi Appalachian Mississippi Non-Appalachian Mississippi New York Appalachian New York Non-Appalachian New York North Carolina Appalachian North Carolina Non-Appalachian North Carolina Ohio Appalachian Ohio Non-Appalachian Ohio Pennsylvania Appalachian Pennsylvania Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania South Carolina Appalachian South Carolina Non-Appalachian South Carolina Tennessee Appalachian Tennessee Non-Appalachian Tennessee Virginia Appalachian Virginia Non-Appalachian Virginia West Virginia (entire state) Other includes these racial groups: (a) American Indian and Alaska Native alone; (b) Asian alone; (c) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone; (d) Some other race alone; and (e) Two or more races. Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses. 14

16 Figure 3.1: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Minority, 2010 The Appalachian region is significantly less racially and ethnically diverse than the United States as a whole, and most parts of the region are far below the national average. In two-thirds of Appalachian counties, minorities (defined as anyone who identifies with a racial or ethnic group other than white alone, not Hispanic ) make up less than 10 percent of the population. There were just 22 counties almost exclusively in southern Appalachia where minorities share of the population matched or exceeded the national average. 15

17 Figure 3.2: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Black Alone, not Hispanic, 2010 Although non-hispanic African Americans remain the largest single minority group in Appalachia, their share of the region s total population is still lower than it is in the United States as a whole. Within the region, the largest proportions are in southern Appalachia, which has nearly all of the 57 counties where blacks share of the population matches or exceeds the national average. At the other end of the spectrum, persons who are black alone, not Hispanic account for less than 5 percent of the residents in three-fourths of Appalachian counties. 16

18 Figure 3.3: Percent of Population in the Appalachian Region That Is Hispanic or Latino, 2010 Although Hispanics have become the nation s largest minority group, they make up only 1 in 25 residents in the Appalachian region. The county patterns reflect this fact as well, as Hispanics are at least 5 percent of the population in just 58 of Appalachia s 420 counties. Moreover, just three Appalachian counties (Gwinnett, Hall, and Whitfield all in Georgia) had Latino population shares that matched or exceeded the national average. 17

19 Figure 3.4: Change in the Black Alone, not Hispanic Population in the Appalachian Region, Between 2000 and 2010, the non-hispanic African American population in the Appalachian region grew slightly faster than the national average. Many counties in the region grew even faster nearly one-third increased their non- Hispanic black populations by 25 percent or more, and the black population more than doubled in 48 counties. It is important to note that many if not most of these counties have small black populations, which would account for their large percentage increases. Also, black population growth was not universal, as slightly more than one-third of Appalachian counties lost African American residents during the 2000s. About half of these counties had suffered overall population declines over the decade. 18

20 Figure 3.5: Change in the Hispanic or Latino Population in the Appalachian Region, Appalachia s Hispanic population more than doubled between 2000 and 2010 nearly triple the national rate of growth for this group. Indeed, Hispanic growth matched or exceeded the national average in more than 300 Appalachian counties and more than doubled in 150 of them. It is important to note that virtually all of these counties have small Latino populations, which would account for their large percentage increases. And there were 34 counties largely in central Appalachia where the Hispanic population actually declined during the past decade. In most of these counties, the Latino population declines simply mirrored what was happening among all residents. 19

21 CHAPTER 4: HOUSING OCCUPANCY AND TENURE Table 4.1: Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2010 Housing Occupancy and Tenure Total Number of Housing Units Number of Occupied Housing Units Percent of Total HUs Occupied Vacant Percent of Occupied HUs Owner- Occupied Renter- Occupied United States 131,704, ,716, Appalachian Region 11,532,681 10,012, Subregions Northern Appalachia 3,922,055 3,404, North Central Appalachia 1,116, , Central Appalachia 883, , South Central Appalachia 2,259,554 1,923, Southern Appalachia 3,350,736 2,945, County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 2,495,868 2,244, Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 4,572,289 4,078, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 790, , Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 2,436,790 2,011, Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,237,716 1,014, Alabama 2,171,853 1,883, Appalachian Alabama 1,378,823 1,210, Non-Appalachian Alabama 793, , Georgia 4,088,801 3,585, Appalachian Georgia 1,176,507 1,034, Non-Appalachian Georgia 2,912,294 2,551, Kentucky 1,927,164 1,719, Appalachian Kentucky 539, , Non-Appalachian Kentucky 1,387,285 1,251, Maryland 2,378,814 2,156, Appalachian Maryland 112,979 96, Non-Appalachian Maryland 2,265,835 2,059, Mississippi 1,274,719 1,115, Appalachian Mississippi 278, , Non-Appalachian Mississippi 996, , New York 8,108,103 7,317, Appalachian New York 509, , Non-Appalachian New York 7,598,276 6,891, North Carolina 4,327,528 3,745, Appalachian North Carolina 856, , Non-Appalachian North Carolina 3,471,067 3,047, Ohio 5,127,508 4,603, Appalachian Ohio 905, , Non-Appalachian Ohio 4,221,920 3,799, Pennsylvania 5,567,315 5,018, Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,720,638 2,368, Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 2,846,677 2,650, South Carolina 2,137,683 1,801, Appalachian South Carolina 516, , Non-Appalachian South Carolina 1,620,815 1,344, Tennessee 2,812,133 2,493, Appalachian Tennessee 1,289,316 1,125, Non-Appalachian Tennessee 1,522,817 1,367, Virginia 3,364,939 3,056, Appalachian Virginia 365, , Non-Appalachian Virginia 2,999,599 2,739, West Virginia (entire state) 881, , Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census. 20

22 Table 4.2: Change in Occupancy and Tenure of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Change in Housing Occupancy and Tenure Total Housing Units Occupied Housing Units Percent Change, Vacant Housing Units Owner- Occupied Housing Units Renter- Occupied Housing Units United States Appalachian Region Subregions Northern Appalachia North Central Appalachia Central Appalachia South Central Appalachia Southern Appalachia County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) Small Metros (pop. <1 million) Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) Alabama Appalachian Alabama Non-Appalachian Alabama Georgia Appalachian Georgia Non-Appalachian Georgia Kentucky Appalachian Kentucky Non-Appalachian Kentucky Maryland Appalachian Maryland Non-Appalachian Maryland Mississippi Appalachian Mississippi Non-Appalachian Mississippi New York Appalachian New York Non-Appalachian New York North Carolina Appalachian North Carolina Non-Appalachian North Carolina Ohio Appalachian Ohio Non-Appalachian Ohio Pennsylvania Appalachian Pennsylvania Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania South Carolina Appalachian South Carolina Non-Appalachian South Carolina Tennessee Appalachian Tennessee Non-Appalachian Tennessee Virginia Appalachian Virginia Non-Appalachian Virginia West Virginia (entire state) Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses. 21

23 Figure 4.1: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Occupied, 2010 Although the home occupancy rate is slightly lower in Appalachia than in the United States as a whole, rates vary within the region. On one hand, 120 of the 420 Appalachian counties have occupancy rates that are at or above the national average. And while these counties are scattered through all parts of Appalachia, most are in metropolitan areas. Conversely, less than 80 percent of housing units are occupied in 83 Appalachian counties all but nine of which lie outside metropolitan areas. 22

24 Figure 4.2: Percent of Housing Units in the Appalachian Region That Are Vacant, 2010 In Appalachia, 13.2 percent of housing units are vacant, which is nearly two percentage points above the national average of 11.4 percent. The vacancy rate varies within the region, however. While one-fifth of Appalachian counties (nearly all in nonmetropolitan areas) have a vacancy rate exceeding 20 percent, another one-fourth of counties have vacancy rates below the national average. It is important to note that in some counties, many (if not most) of the vacant units are designed for seasonal or occasional use, suggesting significant recreational, resort, or retirement activity in the community. 23

25 Figure 4.3: Percent Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2010 Homeownership is more common in the Appalachian region than in the rest of the country. In 399 of the 420 counties, the share of owner-occupied housing units exceeds the national average. Indeed, in more than 200 counties, the homeownership rate is at least 75 percent. It is important to note that for some parts of the region, the high homeownership rates might be related to low levels of economic and residential mobility, the increase in the number and share of mobile homes among the housing stock, and to a lesser extent, the older age structure of the Appalachian population. 24

26 Figure 4.4: Percent Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, 2010 The share of renter-occupied housing units is well below the national average throughout Appalachia; in fact, it is less than 25 percent in nearly half of the region s counties. Among the 21 Appalachian counties where the share of renteroccupied units matches or exceeds the national average, most are either in a large urban area (e.g., Pittsburgh, Birmingham) or home to a college or university where students make up a fairly sizeable share of the population. 25

27 Figure 4.5: Percent Change in Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, The increase in the number of occupied housing units in Appalachia during the last decade was noticeably below the national average of nearly 11 percent. In 91 Appalachian counties, however, the increase in occupied units matched or exceeded the national average. Of these 91 counties, most were in southern and south central Appalachia; the Appalachian section of Georgia alone saw a 30 percent increase in occupied housing units between 2000 and And there seems to be a correspondence between the growth in occupied units and population growth: 84 of these 91 counties also experienced population growth above the national average. Similarly, 88 of the 96 Appalachian counties that experienced a decrease in occupied housing units also lost population over the decade. 26

28 Figure 4.6: Percent Change in Vacant Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, The number of vacant housing units in Appalachia increased 32 percent between 2000 and 2010 well below the national average. Yet in 122 of the region s counties, the increase in vacant housing units exceeded the national rate. The vast majority of these were in southern or south central Appalachia particularly Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. And just 15 of these 122 counties lost population during the 2000s, while in 61 others, the population actually grew faster than the national average. These patterns suggest an increase in the overall housing stock, and possibly some effects of the recession of the late 2000s. At the other end of the spectrum, the number of vacant units fell in 30 counties mostly in northern and central Appalachia. 27

29 Figure 4.7: Percent Change in Owner-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, The number of owner-occupied housing units in Appalachia grew at about half the national average of 8.8 percent between 2000 and Yet in 69 of the region s counties mainly in southern and south central Appalachia owneroccupied units grew at or above the national rate. And nearly all of these counties had population growth that surpassed the national average. Similarly, more than two-thirds of the 184 Appalachian counties where the number of owner-occupied units declined over the decade also lost population. 28

30 Figure 4.8: Percent Change in Renter-Occupied Housing Units in the Appalachian Region, Within Appalachia, the pattern of change in renter-occupied housing units during the 2000s varied across geographic subregions. In the northern and north central counties, the increase was generally below the national rate, while in the southern and south central counties, the increase tended to be above the national average. In 104 Appalachian counties (82 of which were in southern or south central Appalachia), the number of renter-occupied units grew by at least 25 percent. 29

31 CHAPTER 5: EDUCATION Table 5.1: Educational Attainment of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region, Education (Highest Level Attained) Total Population Ages 25 and Over, Less than High School Diploma 30 Percent of Population Ages 25 and Over Total High School Diploma or More H.S. Grad, No Postsecondary Degree Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree or More United States 197,440, Appalachian Region 16,656, Subregions Northern Appalachia 5,707, North Central Appalachia 1,604, Central Appalachia 1,308, South Central Appalachia 3,135, Southern Appalachia 4,901, County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 3,789, Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 6,670, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,117, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 3,373, Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 1,705, Alabama 3,049, Appalachian Alabama 1,982, Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,066, Georgia 6,031, Appalachian Georgia 1,777, Non-Appalachian Georgia 4,253, Kentucky 2,825, Appalachian Kentucky 801, Non-Appalachian Kentucky 2,023, Maryland 3,738, Appalachian Maryland 167, Non-Appalachian Maryland 3,570, Mississippi 1,842, Appalachian Mississippi 394, Non-Appalachian Mississippi 1,448, New York 13,047, Appalachian New York 687, Non-Appalachian New York 12,360, North Carolina 5,940, Appalachian North Carolina 1,126, Non-Appalachian North Carolina 4,813, Ohio 7,671, Appalachian Ohio 1,365, Non-Appalachian Ohio 6,306, Pennsylvania 8,510, Appalachian Pennsylvania 3,976, Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 4,534, South Carolina 2,915, Appalachian South Carolina 746, Non-Appalachian South Carolina 2,169, Tennessee 4,110, Appalachian Tennessee 1,860, Non-Appalachian Tennessee 2,249, Virginia 5,092, Appalachian Virginia 515, Non-Appalachian Virginia 4,577, West Virginia (entire state) 1,253, Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

32 Figure 5.1: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a High School Diploma or More, Although the share of Appalachian adults with at least a high school diploma is slightly below the national average, it exceeds the national share in 93 counties in the region two-thirds of them in northern Appalachia. Yet in 161 counties, less than three-fourths of adults have completed high school, and nearly all of these counties are in central, south central, and southern Appalachia. 31

33 Figure 5.2: Percent of Persons Ages 25 and Over in the Appalachian Region With a Bachelor s Degree or More, In all but a handful of Appalachian counties, the share of adults with a bachelor s degree or more is lower than the national average of 27.5 percent. In fact, in 349 of the region s 420 counties, less than one-fifth of adults are graduates of a four-year college or university. And in 81 counties mostly outside metropolitan areas and more than half in central Appalachia fewer than one in 10 adults has at least a bachelor s degree. Of the 20 counties where the share of college graduates matches or exceeds the national average, virtually all are either in large or fast-growing metropolitan areas, or home to a well-known college or university. Most of these counties also grew faster than the national average between 2000 and

34 CHAPTER 6: MIGRATION Table 6.1: Mobility Status of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region, Mobility Status in the Last Year Total Population Ages 1 and Over, Did Not Move in Past Year 33 Percent of Population Ages 1 and Over Moved from a Different Residence in the Past Year Outside the County Within the County Within the State Outside the State United States 297,355, Appalachian Region 24,382, Subregions Northern Appalachia 8,225, North Central Appalachia 2,337, Central Appalachia 1,887, South Central Appalachia 4,528, Southern Appalachia 7,404, County Types Large Metros (pop. 1 million +) 5,572, Small Metros (pop. <1 million) 9,800, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Large Metros 1,649, Nonmetro, Adjacent to Small Metros 4,875, Rural (nonmetro, not adj. to a metro) 2,483, Alabama 4,573, Appalachian Alabama 2,934, Non-Appalachian Alabama 1,639, Georgia 9,355, Appalachian Georgia 2,746, Non-Appalachian Georgia 6,609, Kentucky 4,194, Appalachian Kentucky 1,173, Non-Appalachian Kentucky 3,021, Maryland 5,560, Appalachian Maryland 243, Non-Appalachian Maryland 5,317, Mississippi 2,879, Appalachian Mississippi 610, Non-Appalachian Mississippi 2,268, New York 19,183, Appalachian New York 1,042, Non-Appalachian New York 18,140, North Carolina 8,922, Appalachian North Carolina 1,612, Non-Appalachian North Carolina 7,309, Ohio 11,367, Appalachian Ohio 1,998, Non-Appalachian Ohio 9,369, Pennsylvania 12,372, Appalachian Pennsylvania 5,681, Non-Appalachian Pennsylvania 6,691, South Carolina 4,358, Appalachian South Carolina 1,112, Non-Appalachian South Carolina 3,246, Tennessee 6,075, Appalachian Tennessee 2,683, Non-Appalachian Tennessee 3,391, Virginia 7,619, Appalachian Virginia 750, Non-Appalachian Virginia 6,869, West Virginia (entire state) 1,792, Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

35 Figure 6.1: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Moved in the Past Year, While residential mobility in Appalachia was slightly below the national average, about one-sixth of the region s counties buck the trend, as the percentage of residents who moved in the past year exceeded the U.S. average. Most of these counties are in southern or south central Appalachia, and about half grew faster than the national average between 2000 and In 79 counties, by contrast, less than 10 percent of residents had moved in the previous 12 months; most of these were in northern, north central, and central Appalachia. 34

36 Figure 6.2: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their County of Residence in the Past Year, Although people in Appalachia are slightly less likely to have migrated from outside their county of residence than Americans as a whole, residents in 130 of the region s counties were more likely to have done so. These counties were scattered throughout the Appalachian region, yet less than half of them grew faster than the national average between 2000 and In 163 counties, less than 5 percent of the residents had migrated from another county most of these counties were outside metropolitan areas, and nearly half of them lost population over the decade. 35

37 Figure 6.3: Percent of Persons Ages 1 and Over in the Appalachian Region Who Had Migrated From Outside Their State of Residence in the Past Year, In 88 of Appalachia s 420 counties, the share of persons who had migrated from outside their state of residence exceeded the national average of 3.2 percent. Most of these counties were in southern and south central Appalachia, and half grew at or above the national average during the 2000s. In 180 counties, however, less than 2 percent of people had come from out of state in the past year. Nearly all of these counties either lost population during the decade, or grew at a rate below the national average. 36