Luxurious riverboats and quaint paddleboats cruising the lower Mississippi River bring back memories of the grand old days when Old Man River conveyed the wealth, goods, and romanticism that allowed our river counties to flourish. Those memories, both the treasured and the despicable, a few goods, and clusters of tourists are about all it conveys to those counties today.
The socio-economic status of most of our 11 river counties reflects that great contraction. For example, Census data from 1960 to 2020 showed that only two of the counties gained population: DeSoto +499% and Warren +6%. The other nine lost population by double-digit percentages: Adams -22%; Bolivar -43%; Claiborne -16%; Coahoma -49%; Issaquena -63%; Jefferson -28%; Tunica -42%; Washington -36%; and Wilkinson -34%. (The state gained 36%.) Likewise, only DeSoto and Warren avoided the Census Bureau’s designation as persistent poverty counties (counties with 20% or higher poverty rates for three or more consecutive censuses). Census poverty rates were: Adams 28.2%; Boliver 33.7%; Claiborne 27.2%; Coahoma 36.3%; DeSoto 9.2%; Issaquena 49.6%; Jefferson 28.5% Tunica 33.8%; Warren 20.3%; Washington 28.8%; and Wilkinson 28.2%. (The state rate average was18.0%.)
And even though populations were down, labor force participation rates (the ratio of persons in the labor force over the population age 16 and up) were generally lower than the state’s lowest-in-the-nation rate of 54.3%; only DeSoto 66.3%, Warren 54.0% and Tunica 52.9% were near or above that. The other county rates were: Adams 41.8%; Boliver 46.2%; Claiborne 34.4%; Coahoma 47.5%; Issaquena 17.1%; Jefferson 38.2%; Washington 47.6%; and Wilkinson 34.6%. Educational attainment rates (the proportion of the population age 25 and up with at least a bachelor’s degree) tell the same story. Only DeSoto 30.1%, Bolivar 26.6%, and Warren 26.5% exceeded the state average of 25.5%. The other county rates were: Adams 19.3%; Claiborne 20.6%; Coahoma 19.0%; Issaquena 4.4%; Jefferson 19.9%; Tunica 16.1%; Washington 20.5%; and Wilkinson 11.6%. Regrettably, conditions of population loss, persistent poverty, low labor participation rates, and low educational attainment suffered by most of the river counties are not unique to them. Many other Mississippi counties face similar conditions. Even more regrettable is the apparent disconnect between the priorities state politicians’ spout – tax cuts, mobile sports betting, eliminating DEI programs, new state websites, school vouchers, lawsuits against federal regulations, data center investments, etc. – and what it will really take to bring wealth and general prosperity back into these counties. (At least Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann offered a few specifics during their Neshoba County Fair speeches). “Then he showed me a river of the water of life” – Revelation 22:1. Crawford is the author of A Republican’s Lament: Mississippi Needs Good Government Conservatives.
5 comments:
There is poverty because the dems keep them dependent on the govt. dole, causing them to keep voting for those same dems - we're looking at you Bennie.
I live in S Mississippi. As a taxpayer, why should I bear the cost of government programs “ to bring back wealth and prosperity” to that area of the state?
This area of MS will NEVER regain wealth and prosperity. It’s sad that there are fools who think it will.
If bad, then Dem.
If good, then Repub.
Repeat with no further thought.
Why? So Bennie can continue to get elected.
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