Decade of Pessimistic Nonmetro Population Trends Ends on Optimistic Note

Two years ago, Calvin Beale wrote an article for us on nonmetro population trends from 1980-86 (see June 1988 issue). That article focused on the sharp downturn in nonmetro growth since the 1970's, and the progressive inability of remote farming and mining counties to retain their people. With the decade now at an end, and a couple more years of data available, Beale and Fuguitt here take a look at what has happened since. Their findings should give readers a preview of the results of the 1990 Census, now being processed.-E