The Two Faces of Rural Population Loss Through Outmigration

Over a third of nonmetropolitan counties lost more than 10 percent of their population over the past 20 years through net outmigration. Poverty and low education account for the high net outmigration in some of these counties, but most are relatively prosperous. Their outmigration is related to low population density, geographic isolation, and a lack of scenic amenities. Programs that reduce the disadvantages of geographic isolation and that enhance residents' access to scenic amenities could help slow or reverse net outmigration in many nonmetro counties.