Rural Nebraska economic boom/ Urban Decline (Omaha, Lincoln: ski resorts, employment, wages)

[Raphael07]

Old news I know but these statistics are actually quite surprising.
Omaha.com Metro/Region Section

[IsThisOneTaken?]

I would venture a guess that the growth of "rural" areas was skewed by the growth or small communities outside of Lincoln and Omaha moreso than any growth for what we would consider truely "rural" areas.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Old news I know but these statistics are actually quite surprising.
Omaha.com Metro/Region Section

The problem is that those rural areas can continue to "grow," but getting a sizable number of people to move to a community that is over 50 miles from an Interstate Highway or a regional center is extremely challenging. That is why most communities that have seen growth in the Great Plains states are along highways, regional trade centers, Indian Reservations, energy boom areas, towns near metro areas, and cities.

[Flat Water 1867]

Originally Posted by IsThisOneTaken?

I would venture a guess that the growth of "rural" areas was skewed by the growth or small communities outside of Lincoln and Omaha moreso than any growth for what we would consider truely "rural" areas.

You hit the nail on the head. The city of Gretna has doubled in size since the 2000 census. Is there anyone who doesn't attribute that phenomenal growth to Gretna's proximity to Omaha? Is there anyone who thinks Gretna would have experienced the same population boom if it was located in an isolated area like O'Neill or Valentine? I grew up in a small town in Nebraska, (just under 500 people) and the bleak truth is that any small town in this state with less than 5000 people has lost population since 1990 unless that town is either located along I-80, or is within commuting distance to population centers like Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte etc.

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Originally Posted by Flat Water 1867

....or is within commuting distance to population centers like Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte etc.

That plan isn't even working for Ogallala, Kimball and some other I-80 towns. Sidney will probably take a hit with the cuts at Cabelas too.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by IsThisOneTaken?

That plan isn't even working for Ogallala, Kimball and some other I-80 towns. Sidney will probably take a hit with the cuts at Cabelas too.

Also, many rural counties have seen non-farm employment gains between 2000-2005, but that has not stopped the huge out-migration flow from those areas. It is extremely hard to tempt people to move to an isolated town that is many miles from a regional center or interstate highway.

[SCGranny]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

It is extremely hard to tempt people to move to an isolated town that is many miles from a regional center or interstate highway.

Yes, it is,TG.

I think that we will see a lot more of it though. Many folks are looking for what I've found here, in a rural setting. Hopefully it will take some time for the developers and other money-grubbers to 'discover' that, though. And to destroy the rural communities like they have in ID, CO, MT, and WY.

[Flat Water 1867]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Yes, it is,TG.

I think that we will see a lot more of it though. Many folks are looking for what I've found here, in a rural setting. Hopefully it will take some time for the developers and other money-grubbers to 'discover' that, though. And to destroy the rural communities like they have in ID, CO, MT, and WY.

But one thing that Idaho, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming all have that Nebraska will never have is small towns nestled in gorgeous mountain scenery that are ripe for tourism and ski resorts. I don't think a place like Ord will ever see a development boom like the one seen in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the 70's, so I wouldn't worry about rural Nebraska being "destroyed" anytime soon. (Nothing against Ord, by the way. I could have used any random, remote small town in Nebraska.)

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Yes, it is,TG.

I think that we will see a lot more of it though. Many folks are looking for what I've found here, in a rural setting. Hopefully it will take some time for the developers and other money-grubbers to 'discover' that, though. And to destroy the rural communities like they have in ID, CO, MT, and WY.

TG?

I also completely agree that the rural Plains will never be "discovered" like the rural areas in the Intermountain West. The primary answer is because those rural areas in the Intermountain West have an "ineresting" natural setting, and a burgeoning resort/tourism industries. Most ski towns have more jobs than people, but often the wages for those jobs are generally low. This creates more of a tiered class structure where only the super wealthy can afford to live in the desirable areas, and the workers commute very long distances to jobs located in the desirable town.

[SCGranny]

Um, it isn't only the skiing and ineresting rural setting, but the other qualities that draw developers.
1) Cheap property, of which NE has an overabundance.
2) Desperate-to-encourage-growth communities, that will tax current citizens to supply water, sewer, roads, and even police and fire stations, to ensure developers' not having to foot the bills so that they profit and can oversell their properties.

Any good marketing agent can sell to any member of the public. I know - I did it for YEARS. "So you're a baby boomer who wants to retire to a simpler way of life, want to get out of the rat race, want to get away from the hordes of cars and pounding traffic? Like to hunt REAL deer, turkey, antelope, wild geese, and other wildlife, and want to tube down a river in your backyard in the morning and pull a 10-pound bass out of that river in the afternoon? Want all of the amenities of city life - right next door to the wide open spaces? Then our Nebraska Heaven Development is for YOU!"

Or, even simpler... "Work Ethic. Nebraska never lost it. You want it - for your business, for your lifestyle, for your growing opportunity."

Watch. 'Hit doan tak much.'

Grumble grumble grumble.