Rural ghetto
Encyclopedia
The term rural ghetto was coined by Osha Gray Davidson
in the book Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto and is used to describe the influx of poverty and neglect in the small towns of Midwestern
and Southeastern United States
that occurs.
According to an April, 1993 review of the book by Fred Magdoff, rural ghetto
s are often "omitted from most people's conception of poverty." For one thing, "rural poverty is less visually dramatic than urban poverty--poorly insulated mobile homes and weather-beaten single family houses look almost quaint compared to urban tenements." Magdoff goes on to point out the reality of poverty in rural areas does not fit a common conception of idyllic farms.
Some of the trends driving the rural ghetto phenomenon:
In contrast to urban areas and inner-city neighborhoods, most of the "rural ghettos" are mostly white
, though a large number of predominantly black towns in the Southern U.S. fit this particular profile. Jackson County, Kentucky
in the Appalachia
region was featured on an April 2009 segment on ABC news program 20/20 about rural poverty.
Also to note, many Indian Reservation
s, home to Native Americans
such as Pine Ridge
and Standing Rock
, South Dakota
, and Hispanic
-majority farm towns known as colonias (see also barrio
), most notably in South Texas
and Central California
, are referred to as "rural ghettos". Often these areas are isolated geographically from main economic centers.
Osha Gray Davidson
Osha Gray Davidson , is a writer who focuses on natural history, race relations and other social and human rights issues. He was born in Passaic, New Jersey and grew up in Iowa, studying at the University of Iowa....
in the book Broken Heartland: The Rise of America's Rural Ghetto and is used to describe the influx of poverty and neglect in the small towns of Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
that occurs.
According to an April, 1993 review of the book by Fred Magdoff, rural ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
s are often "omitted from most people's conception of poverty." For one thing, "rural poverty is less visually dramatic than urban poverty--poorly insulated mobile homes and weather-beaten single family houses look almost quaint compared to urban tenements." Magdoff goes on to point out the reality of poverty in rural areas does not fit a common conception of idyllic farms.
Some of the trends driving the rural ghetto phenomenon:
- A speculation-driven bubble in land prices.
- A push by agricultural officials to have farmers produce as much grain as possible, the "fence row to fence row" mandate.
- The bank crisis, partially caused by banks pushing too-easy-to-get credit on both farm and non-farm businesses.
- The decline in the number of non-farm jobs and the increase of low-paying service-sector jobs.
- The opening of large malls on the outskirts of towns.
- Reagan-era reduction in farm aid to states, cities and towns when aid was most needed.
In contrast to urban areas and inner-city neighborhoods, most of the "rural ghettos" are mostly white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, though a large number of predominantly black towns in the Southern U.S. fit this particular profile. Jackson County, Kentucky
Jackson County, Kentucky
Jackson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was formed in 1858 and was named for President Andrew Jackson. As of 2000, the population was 13,495. Its county seat is McKee. It is a prohibition or dry county...
in the Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
region was featured on an April 2009 segment on ABC news program 20/20 about rural poverty.
Also to note, many Indian Reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
s, home to Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
such as Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
and Standing Rock
Standing Rock Indian Reservation
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a Lakota, Yanktonai and Dakota Indian reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, and Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
-majority farm towns known as colonias (see also barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
), most notably in South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
and Central California
Central California
Central California, sometimes referenced as Mid-State, is an area of California south of the San Francisco Bay Area and north of Southern California...
, are referred to as "rural ghettos". Often these areas are isolated geographically from main economic centers.