What's a Household? What's a Family?
How people define themselves and their living situations can vary significantly from the U.S. Census Bureau's definitions of the same terms. (November 2003)

The Growing Number of Kids in Severely Distressed Neighborhoods: Evidence From the 2000 U.S. Census (PDF: 348KB)
Despite the booming economy of the 1990s, the number of children living in severely distressed neighborhoods increased 18 percent in 10 years. (October 2003)

Older Americans a Growth Industry for Rural Areas?
To combat shrinking populations in rural areas, experts are advising small U.S. towns to consider recruiting more older people — a definite departure from traditional recruitment strategies that attract people of working ages. (August 2003)

Recreational Areas Among the Fastest Growing in the U.S.
Places in the United States that offer leisure opportunities near lakes, mountains, valleys, and scenic landscapes are attracting large numbers of migrants. Population gains in such areas exceed the national average by more than 50 percent between 1990 and 2000 and growth is continuing. (July 2003)

A 50-Year Decline in the Child Population in Rural Areas
While the number of children in the U.S. has increased by 34 percent since 1950, the number living in rural areas has dropped significantly. Most of the population growth has occurred in the suburbs, where families are attracted to good schools, stable communities, and economic opportunities. (July 2003)

Child Poverty Remains High for Rural and Small-Town America
Despite the recession, poverty rates for families with children under 18 have held steady overall. But this national trend masks significant geographic differences. For kids in rural areas, the rate rose slightly. (July 2003)

Three Case Studies: Involving Men to Address Gender Inequities (PDF: 743KB)

 Profiles of three innovative programs (Salud y Género, Society for the Integrated Development of the Himalayas (SIDH), and Stepping Stones) that have involved men and youth in efforts to improve reproductive health outcomes for both men and women (July 2003).

The U.S. Birth Rate Falls Further
The U.S. total fertility rate has been revised: the United States is no longer the only industrialized country with fertility above replacement level. Perhaps the new estimate of the U.S. TFR and the sagging U.S. economy, which may further reduce the birth rate, will narrow this gap soon. (June 2003)

Appalachia at the Millennium: An Overview of Results From Census 2000 (PDF: 514KB)
The U.S. Appalachian region has been characterized mostly by its economic hardship and geographic isolation. With rural isolation and fast-growing metropolitan, the 13-state region is far from homogeneous. (June 2003)

Census Bureau to Track Both Metro and 'Micropolitan' Areas
'Micropolitan' areas have an urban cluster of at least 10,000 people that does not exceed 50,000 people. Ten percent of Americans live in micropolitan areas. (June 2003)