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Research shows growing poverty rate in certain counties nationwide

Posted at 6:45 AM, Dec 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-30 06:45:44-05

(LEX 18) — New data show that poverty increased in at least one county in every state over the last few years. This is according to research from Stateline.

This data is based off an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau county estimates. The research showed that the poverty rate grew in 30 percent of counties between 2016 and 2018.

The impact in each state varied. In New Jersey and Rhode Island, the poverty rate only grew in one county, while in Texas, it grew in 83 counties.

The poverty rate is the percentage of people in households earning less than the poverty threshold, which is currently $25,750 for a family of four.

The counties with the biggest jumps in poverty ranged across political and demographic lines.

Stateline reports that most of the biggest increases were in southern and rural areas. Those areas generally had residents who lacked job training and skills, and industries that suffered downturns.

One of those areas is Carter County in northeastern Kentucky.