What People See as Absolutely Essential Rural Community Characteristics: Younger vs. Older Adults

Authors

Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Panhandle Research and Extension CenterFollow
Randy Cantrell, Rural Futures InstituteFollow
Brad Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Becky Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Cornhusker Economics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, October 15, 2014

Comments

Copyright © 2014 University of Nebraska

Abstract

When a 19-year-old looks at a rural community what characteristics are essential to this person? What are they looking for? Now think about someone who is 65 or older – what is essential to this person? You might presume that these two groups, young-er and older adults, would have very little in com-mon. Granted, there are differences in what these age groups see as essential, but there are also char-acteristics that both age groups rate similarly. The 2014 Nebraska Rural Poll report¹, scheduled to be published in late October, asked the follow-ing question, “How essential or necessary are the following characteristics of a community in order for you to have a high quality of life?” The answer responses included: not at all essential; nice, but not essential; important, but not essential; and ab-solutely essential.