General population abstract

Minorities constitute 31.0 percent of South Carolina's population, with African Americans representing 96.1 percent of all minorities in the State. With such a large minority population, it is imperative that information regarding the socio-economic status of minorities and their contribution to the overall socio-economic prosperity of the State be well researched and documented. This report and subsequent documents published by the Commission, will provide data that will be useful in determining the best way to disperse limited state and federal resources and implement new and better targeted public policy initiatives.

Vulnerable Rural Counties: The Changing Rural Landscape, 2000–2010

Understanding the demography of rural America is vital to understanding what programs, interventions and policy initiatives are needed to improve health care access, delivery and outcomes. Overall findings suggest that rural America experienced the recession that ended the 2000–2010 decade more severely than did urban America. Loss of income, declining population and reduced health care resources marked the period for most rural counties. Rural counties will need continued monitoring in the present decade to ascertain whether these adverse trends continue and to identify any policy approaches that can serve to ameliorate losses in health care services.

Key Facts in Rural Health : Vulnerable Rural Counties : The Changing Rural Landscape, 2000-2010

In 2008, the U.S. experienced its worst recession since the Great Depression, particularly affecting rural America. The South Carolina Rural Health Research Center used county-level data to examine rural demographic changes over the last decade. Most counties experienced increased levels of poverty between 2000-2010. Rural counties were disproportionately affected. Rural counties experienced a growth in the 65 and older population while losing children. Rural counties gained in racial/ethnic diversity.