A new national survey found similar 1995 rates in rural and urban households for food insecurity (12%), hunger (4%), and severe hunger (0.8%). Single-parent families, minority groups, and households in the South and West had higher rates of food insecurity and hunger. However, the number of hungry children was difficult to estimate. (Author/SV)

From 1995 through 1997, the rural population increased, especially in the South and West, due to net migration from urban areas. The largest rural gains were among people ages 26 to 30, including many young families. College graduates were well represented among rural in-migrants. Includes migration data by age group, educational attainment,…

Data from Current Population Surveys indicate that rural poverty increased from 1989 to 1993, one quarter of rural children live in poverty, the proportions of people in rural areas living alone and in single-parent families have increased, nonmetropolitan poverty remains highest in the South, and rural minorities continue to face especially…

Although rural poverty began to decline, 1994-95, many rural households had incomes just above poverty. Rural minorities were especially disadvantaged; racial differences in educational attainment accounted for 20-33% of income gaps. One-quarter of rural children lived in poverty, most in single-parent households. Most rural poor families lived in…