The Influence of Local Spatial Stratification on Poverty in Appalachia

Economic development research and policy implementation in Appalachia typically occurs at the county-level, despite varying socioeconomic conditions within counties. This paper explores the usefulness of a subcounty measure of spatial stratification in Appalachia — distance from a county seat. County seats are cities or towns that are the economic and political centers of counties. Qualitative research has noted a separation between local elites who live near the county seat and poorer rural residents who live in outlying areas. Further, Appalachian historians explain how urban-based development in the region frequently ignored the most rural and isolated neighborhoods. This paper aims to empirically test whether a neighborhood’s distance from a county seat influences socioeconomic outcomes. Using data from the 2000 Census, I find that census tract distance to a county seat has a slight, positive association with poverty in Central Appalachia — as neighborhood distance from a county seat increases, so does poverty. Other subregions illuminate different trends. In South Central and North Central Appalachia, regression analysis reveals that distance from a county seat and poverty have a quadratic, “U-shaped” relationship: an increase in distance away from a county seat decreases poverty until about 10 miles, at which point poverty increases. This illustrates a more traditional urban-based stratification structure, where the inner city is poor, suburbs are well off, and extremely rural areas are poorest. While data limitations exist, this study highlights the importance of local spatial stratification across Appalachia