Poverty in WV?? (low income, real estate, 2009)

[Serena123]

I just read another post where someone stated that WV is full of the poorest americans?? I never had that impression, did you??

[Threerun]

Well if you judge poor based on per capita income, then yes- we are near the bottom. However if you judge it based on richness of life, self-sustainability, sense of home, then no- we are probably the richest state in the country.

[Serena123]

Threerun:

Great answer ~ thanks. serena

[vec101]

I just answered your question on that other forum (Kentucky forum - the Diane Sawyer Report on Appalachian Poverty).

[vec101]

That was a good answer Three.
Will be interesting to see the per capita figures for 2008 and 2009 when they come out.

Also, if you are using per capita income one must take the cost of living into account.
For instance, in 2006, WV per capital personal income was 28,206; in DC it was 57,746. Hmmm, wonder in "real costs" who was really able to live better?

[Lady of the Lake 1959]

West Virginia may be average to low income but we live within our means, pay our bills ,keep our budget balanced, low foreclosure rate (almost nil) Real Estate is still moving, banks are still loaning...We never had a salmonella outbreak....Some of us raise our own food, fish and hunt to fill the freezer...

[mmccul]

I think a lot of this poverty and hillbilly trash stuff all starts from stereotyping. Sure, our numbers might be lower than other states, but we're still human. (Try to explain that to a New Yorker!) -mmccul

[ArcticPhoenix]

Where I grew up, just about the only thing I saw was poverty... I don't think it's stereotyping so much as it is merely a slight exaggeration of the actual conditions that are present. Now, granted, the contrast became much clearer to me once I moved West, but I still saw the poverty and recognized it, for the most part.

That said, there's a lot to be said about West Virginia that *is* good. Like others have said, we (West Virginians... I still consider myself one) are very self-reliant, self-sufficient, and aren't as concerned with material things as the rest of the country is.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, West Virginia is its own region and country. It is unique and there aren't any other places like it that I've been to.

God, there are some days when I really miss it.

[mmccul]

Could you please tell me exactly where this post was located? Thanks! -mmccul

[westvissouri]

All of these answers are wonderful, and my answer will line up the bullseye just fine.

Now for my answer.

We do have poor people here. Where is there not poor people? Like all previous posts have said - what is your definition of imporverished?

I mean, let's say all of these people that do not look impoverished - they may have bought a house that they really can't afford, a car they really don't need, and have an astronomical amount of credit card/loan debt. Based on what they have, and don't have - would you call this person rich, or in poverty. IMO, this is what I call poverty.

When you live within your means (and I don't mean eating Ramen Noodles every day - there is a difference between living within your means and being almost dirt poor) and have the necessities and are not concerned with keeping up with other people - that is my definition of being rich.

As for per capita income, yes, we would be near the bottom. But if you look at the things going on here compared to the rest of the country, we are way richer than any other state. Like Lady of the Lake said, we're in good shape.

Every state has poor people. But the culture is much different here, there are some parts where this "outsider culture" has taken grip - but for the most part, we're still the same ol' folk. People living in the Appalachians has become synonomous with the word "poor" and that is just not the case.