Tri-Cities kids are behind economically

I have just updated this page for October 2006. The per capita income has gone up in the region, but the number of children falling behind is getting worse. The best explanation is the growth of retirement communities and move-in retirees. They have much higher income than many working local people, but also drive up the cost of living. In 2007 Washington County VA is the wealthiest county in Southwest VA, but the free/reduced lunch rate is 40%.

New Data for 2006

Tennessee

Per capita income 2002: 

Carter:    $20,233
Hawkins:   $21,564
Johnson:   $16,269
Sullivan:  $26,306 

Percent of People Receiving Food Stamps:

Carter:    16.2%
Hawkins:   14.9%
Johnson:   18.6%
Sullivan:  11.9%

Percent of Students Participating in 
Free/Reduced Lunch Program 2003: 

Carter:    45.2%
Hawkins:   42.5%
Johnson:   53.8%
Sullivan:  29.9%

Virginia

Per Capita Income 2004:

Bristol*   $26,483
Buchanan   $22,960
Dickenson  $18,391
Lee        $21,357
Russell    $21,311
Scott      $21,481
Smyth      $23,113
Tazewll    $23,787
Washington*  
Wise       $22,240

The annual Kids Count report, published by the Maryland-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, a children's advocacy group, ranked Tennessee 43rd overall. Virginia fared much better, at 14th. Using the number of students approved for federally assisted school lunch programs, the report showed that the number of poor children in the region has. climbed steadily in the past couple of years.

Quoting Diane Wise, regional coordinator for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, "I feel like (the economy) is the greatest issue. We've had so many plants and industries closing down, and people have moved to lower-wage jobs. "We do not have the high-paying jobs that we need in this area. The federal National School Lunch Program provides free or reduced-price lunches to children from low-income families. A higher percentage of children enrolled in the program indicate an increasing rate of poverty.

...Every county in Southwest Virginia except Dickenson saw an increase between 1995 and 2002 in the percentage of children approved for free or reduced-price school meals. All had higher percentages than the state average of 32. Buchanan County (a declining coal mining community) saw the greatest increase in the area 12 percentage points bringing its rate to 69 percent. It was one of the highest rates in the state. Tazewell and Wise (also coal mining communities) counties had 11 percentage point increases to 47 percent and 48 percent, respectively during the same tune span. Russell County had a 7 percentage point jump to 47 percent.

In Northeast Tennessee, multiple localities saw increased rates of children participating in the meals program since 1998. Sullivan County, including Bristol TN, saw a 1 percentage point hike to 31 percent, while Hawkins County had a 4 percentage point jump to 41 percent. The state average was 36 percent. Kids Count statistics also show that while the percentage of children on the meals program has risen, the total number of people in the area has declined - an indicator that those making money are moving away leaving a more destitute demographic behind.

Ref BHC July 18, 2004

ON THE NET Kids Count at www.kidscount.org Per Capita Income Definitions: Aggregate income for a locality divided by the total number of individuals in the locality. Note: Per capita income is often used as a measure of the wealth of the population of locality or state, particularly in comparison to other localities or states. Per capita income gives no indication of the distribution of that income within the state or locality, so a small wealthy class can increase the measured per-capita income far above that of the majority of the population. * Bristol and Washington County have been combined, masking the huge income drop in Bristol. Washington County has a very wealthy community in Abingdon and South Holston Lake.

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