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Why are most of the small towns in Appalachia poor whereas most of the small towns in the western U.S. are not poor such as small towns in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana?
Last edited by fiddlestick; 06-11-2013 at 08:37 PM..
Why are most of the small towns in Appalachia poor whereas most of the small towns in the western U.S. are not poor?
Most small towns in the western US are poor, especially in New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Nevada, Colorado, West Texas, etc. Boutique towns on the west coast are not poor but they aren't your typical small towns.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bchris02
Most small towns in the western US are poor, especially in New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Nevada, Colorado, West Texas, etc. Boutique towns on the west coast are not poor but they aren't your typical small towns.
I hadn't realized most small towns on the West Coast was boutique'sh yet rarely found in places like Colorado.
Boutique towns on the west coast are not poor but they aren't your typical small towns.
Not all those towns are "boutique." There are towns within hearing distance of the crashing surf that are just as chock full of tweekers, pillheads, and violent drunks as anywhere else you can think of.
I haven't seen very many run down poor towns in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah. In the Appalachians they are all over the place.
You haven't looked hard enough. Population density plays a part as does the reality that in the East many of the basic industries have left over the last 30 years and have not been replaced.
Appalachia is a pretty big area and takes in several states and each is different. I live in Western NC and many of the small towns here are beautiful and doing well. But yes there are very real pockets of poverty in parts of the Appalachian region lack of jobs and low levels of education are a factor. I have also noticed the warm humid climate causes structures to deteriorate quickly if not maintained. Out west the drier climate keeps things loking better longer and no kudzu to take over. But there is poverty in the west in many places. Take a drive through one of the Native American reservations same problems lack of jobs and low education levels.
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