Submitted by: agcomm,  Thu Jul  3 15:46:10 1997


                                  July 3, 1997
 
North Dakota Poverty Has Declined
 
[GRAPHICS ACCOMPANY HARD COPY, AND ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WORLD
WIDE WEB]
 
     The percent of persons below poverty in North Dakota fell
from 14.4 percent in 1990 to 12.5 percent in 1993, according to
the recent "Population Bulletin" released by the North Dakota
State Data Center. The percent of persons below poverty in the
United States as a whole rose from 13.1 percent in 1990 to 15.1
percent in 1993. 
     "The reduction of impoverished persons in North Dakota
reflects the relatively robust economy the state has enjoyed
since the early part of the decade," said Richard Rathge,
director of the State Data Center. "Unemployment is at record
lows while inflation has been held in check throughout the
decade. These positive economic conditions tend to lift the
living standards for most residents through increased employment
opportunities and higher wages." 
 
     The positive state outlook conceals the fact that many of
the states rural areas continue to struggle. In 1993, one out of
every six counties in North Dakota had higher rates of poverty
than the national average.  These included Benson, Grant, Kidder,
McHenry, McKenzie, Mountrail, Rolette, Sheridan and Sioux
counties. Sioux county had the highest percentage of persons
below poverty, 37.4 percent. 
     Five counties in North Dakota showed an increase in the
proportion of total persons below poverty between 1990 and 1993:
Eddy, Pembina, Ramsey, Stutsman and Traill.  
     The percentage of related children 5 to 17 years (children
living in a family household and related to the householder)
living below poverty in North Dakota also declined from nearly 16
percent in 1990 to 14.4 percent in 1993. New Hampshire had the
lowest rate, 9.8 percent, and North Dakota ranked 15th with 14.4
percent. In contrast, at the national level the proportion of
children 5 to 17 years living below poverty rose from 17 percent
in 1990 to 20.4 percent in 1993. Five North Dakota counties had
poverty rates higher than the nation: Benson, Grant, Mountrail,
Sioux and Rolette. Rolette had the highest, 40.4 percent. 
[EDITORS: FOR MORE DETAIL ON PERCENT OF PERSONS
BELOW POVERTY, SEE BLUE PUBLICATION
 FOLLOWING THIS STORY, "PERCENT OF PERSONS
BELOW POVERTY, NORTH DAKOTA 1993." THIS
 PUBLICATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE TATE
DATA CENTER, BOX 5636, NDSU, FARGO, ND
 58105.]
                    ###
 
NDSU Agriculture Communication
Departmental Editor:
Barry Brissman
(701) 231-7866
Source:
Richard Rathge
(701) 231-8621
Writer:
Naomi Dahlberg
(701) 231-8371