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Many of them are in the northeast section of the state, almost all rural. "Despite substantial growth in some areas of the state, a large portion of North Carolina has seen little to no population increase. Of North Carolina’s 553 municipalities, 225, or about 41%, experienced population decline from 2010-2016. An additional 192 reported growth that was lower than 6.4%, the state’s growth rate since 2010. In total, three of every four North Carolina municipalities have lost population or grown slower than the state since 2010. The northeast corridor of the state has been the hardest hit, as the top 10 municipalities with greatest percentage declines from 2010-2016 have been from Bertie, Northampton, or Washington counties."
In many of these areas, the trend won't be reversed. The aging population is dying off quicker than the few young people that stay are having kids. Those that stay and have college degrees or a high likelihood of making more money in the city are moving to places like Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, etc... Some will eventually move back, but many will stay in the city and start their families there, contributing to additional growth in the largest cities in the state.
As we continue our shift to a knowledge and service based economy, the hopes of landing a manufacturing plant or expanding tourism are all the towns really have to reverse their misfortune. All across the country, rural areas are dying as they get left behind by the economic shift and living preferences of the next generation.
Rapid growth would cause land prices to skyrocket. As a result, farmers would earn more money by selling their land to developers. This is a trend that destroys available farm land. In this state, most struggling rural areas are less than 2 hours away from decent job markets. Norfolk, the Triangle, the Triad, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Greenville/Spartanburg provides plenty of jobs close enough to most of rural NC. Tourism keeps those few isolated rural areas afloat.
Above, I just named 5 metro areas with over 1 million residents. That fact alone is the biggest reason why NC has the second largest GDP in the southeast (trailing only Florida). The loss of population in rural NC is a byproduct of the job creation that is taking place in our larger cities. In other words, we don't need more jobs in rural NC. Rural NC needs more job training for the jobs that are being created in this state. It says a lot when folks from Califonia are more willing (and more able due to their skill level) to take a job in the Triangle than a family in Kinston.
Last edited by urbancharlotte; 07-10-2017 at 01:04 PM..
Rapid growth would cause land prices to skyrocket. As a result, farmers would earn more money by selling their land to developers. This is a trend that destroys available farm land.
How nice of you to wish to keep rural areas impoverished so the few remaining residents can supply you with food! Such a caring, enlightened soul you are.
In this state, most struggling rural areas are less than 2 hours away from decent job markets. Norfolk, the Triangle, the Triad, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Greenville/Spartanburg provides plenty of jobs close enough to most of rural NC.
If that were true, rural areas wouldn't be losing population. No one is commuting 4 hours round trip.
More like raise it and then slaughter it. 68% of the value of North Carolina's agricultural industry is in live stock, largely with vertically integrated factory farm suppliers like Smithfield, Tyson, Sanderson Farms, etc...
It takes a couple thousand workers work in the large factories and grow out operations to move 9.3 million heads of hogs per year and 818,700,000 heads of chickens per year that grow out in North Carolina. The process has become very efficient and continues to require less and less labor as robots are beginning to de-bone, complete slaughter, and increasingly get involved in grow out ops from feeding to nursing.
If that were true, rural areas wouldn't be losing population. No one is commuting 4 hours round trip.
It's simple; relocate or go broke. If Ohio, NY, NJ, Cali, etc transplants can make the move by the thousands for NC jobs; why can't our rural NC residents relocate 1.5 hrs " down the road".
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