 |
Distressed counties have a three-year average unemployment rate that is at least 1.5 times the U.S. average of 4.3 percent; a per capita market income that is two-thirds or less of the U.S. average of $25,676; and a poverty rate that is at least 1.5 times the U.S. average of 12.4 percent; OR they have 2 times the U.S. poverty rate and qualify on the unemployment or income indicator.
The U.S. average and the distressed county level for each indicator are as follows:
| |
U.S. Average |
Distressed County |
| Three-Year Average Unemployment Rate (1999-2001) |
4.3% |
6.5% or more |
| Per Capita Market Income (2000) |
$25,676 |
$17,203 or less |
| Poverty Rate (2000) |
12.4% |
18.6% or more |
Data Sources:
Unemployment data: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1999-2001
Income data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2000
Poverty data: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2000
|