Rural Idaho still lags behind cities….Counties close to urban areas are thriving, plus quality of country life is good

Most Idaho counties rely on just one sector of the state’s diverse economy. In many rural areas, agriculture is still the most important resource industry, but ag income is becoming more and more concentrated in the largest farm and animal operations.

Rural adults are less likely to have high school diplomas and college degrees than urban residents, but some rural schools are outperforming urban ones, and the dropout rate is lower in rural areas.

Rural Idahoans still are struggling with low wages in local economies often dependent on just one industry.

They don’t have as much access to health care as Idaho’s urbanites, and it’s harder for country dwellers to get access to higher education.

The 2005 Profile of Rural Idaho, released Wednesday by the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor, highlights these ongoing challenges to the 35 rural counties that have been watching their timber, mining and agriculture economies change dramatically.

In fact, that’s the first word in the 40-page report.

"Change," it says, "truly is the one constant on which we can depend."

Gregory Hahn
The Idaho Statesman

Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050505/NEWS01/505050346/1002

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Related Stories

* Key findings on rural Idaho http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050505/NEWS01/505050348/1002

Related Links

* Idaho Rural Partnership http://irp.idaho.gov/