CARI: Center for Applied Rural Innovation

 

Date of this Version

8-2011

Citation

Center for Applied Rural Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2011. Center Research Report 3-11. 38 p.

Comments

Copyright 2011, Center for Applied Rural Innovation. Used by permission. Also available at: http://ruralpoll.unl.edu.

Abstract

Recent community level Census data show that most small communities in Nebraska experienced population decline since 2000. However, most of the larger communities experienced population growth during this same time period. Various economic development strategies could be employed by communities to grow their population and economies. Given these conditions, how do rural Nebraskans feel about their community? Are they satisfied with the services provided by their community? Are they planning to move from their community in the next year? Have these views changed over the past sixteen years? How do rural Nebraskans believe various economic development strategies would impact their community? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions.

This report details 2,490 responses to the 2011 Nebraska Rural Poll, the sixteenth annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans' perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about their community and economic development strategies. Trends for some of these questions are examined by comparing data from the fifteen previous polls to this year’s results. In addition, comparisons are made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged:

-By many different measures, rural Nebraskans are positive about their community. Many rural Nebraskans rate their community favorably on its social dimensions. Over one-half of rural Nebraskans say it would be difficult to leave their community. Most rural Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its future.

-Residents of smaller communities are more likely than residents of larger communities to rate their community favorably on its social dimensions and to have positive sentiments about their community. Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to rate their community as friendly, trusting and supportive. Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to say it would be difficult to leave their community.

-Residents of larger communities are more likely than residents of smaller communities to say their community has changed for the better during the past year and will be a better place to live ten years from now. Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say their community has changed for the better during the past year. Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to say their community will be a better place to live ten years from now.

-Except for a few services that are largely unavailable in rural communities, rural Nebraskans are generally satisfied with basic community services and amenities.

-Few rural Nebraskans are planning to move from their community in the next year, but most of those who do plan to move expect to leave the state.

-Most rural Nebraskans believe strategies that assist small businesses and entrepreneurs would have a positive impact on their community.

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