Successful Communities: What is Desired and What is Present in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska

Authors

Rebecca Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Center for Applied Rural Innovation, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Randolph Cantrell, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Nebraska Rural Poll Research Report 14-3, November 2014.

Comments

Copyright 2014 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Abstract

Many rural communities have experienced population declines during the past several decades. However, recent research has shown that rural counties are experiencing in-migration of persons age 30 to 49 years. Rural communities have also been typically viewed as having many positive characteristics. So, what do rural Nebraskans look for in a community? What characteristics are present in their current community? Do their perceptions differ by the size of their community or their age? This report details 1,943 responses to the 2014 Nebraska Rural Poll, the nineteenth annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about successful rural communities. Trends for some of the questions are examined by comparing data from the 2002 Rural Poll to this year’s results. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age and size of community. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged.