Poverty Rates in Mississippi
Poor People are Isolated to Areas Along Mississippi River
With a poverty rate of 19.3%, Mississippi has the highest poverty rate in the United States, just ahead of Louisiana.
Where the Worst Poverty in Mississippi Occurs
Critical poverty rates in Mississippi are very isolated on the western side of Mississippi along the Mississippi River.
Counties that are considered to have critical poverty rates have poverty rates which are at least 50% higher than the state average. To have a county poverty rate that much higher than the highest state poverty rate in the United States means a lot.
There are 14 counties in Mississippi which fit this criterion (see map below article). Those counties with critical rates of poverty are the following:
- Bolivar (30.1%)
- Claiborne (29.2%)
- Coahoma (30.6%)
- Holmes (33.7%)
- Humphreys (32.7%)
- Issaquena (34.7%)
- Jefferson (29.6%)
- Leflore (31.6%)
- Quitman (30.0%)
- Sharkey (32.0%)
- Sunflower (34.3%)
- Washington (29.5%)
- Wilkinson (30.8%)
- Yazoo (29.1%)
A critical rate of poverty also occurs in one major city in Mississippi. This city is Greenville, with a poverty rate of 29.6%.
Why the Worst Poverty in Mississippi Exists
With all of the critical rates of poverty in Mississippi isolated in one area along the Mississippi River on the western border, this creates a problem by itself.
When critical rates of poverty become isolated in one particular area, a negative stigma can become associated with the area.
This negative stigma makes the area an unattractive place for expanding businesses, teachers, and health care professionals. This leads to the area having a low amount of available jobs, low-quality education, and low-quality health care.
All of this makes the problem of poverty in the area even worse, which reinforces the negative stigma, creating a cycle of continuously worsening conditions in the area without private or public investment.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
What is Being Done about Poverty in Mississippi
Without some serious public and private investment in this isolated region along the Mississippi River, along with complete attitude changes among the American public, this region would be doomed to an endless cycle of continuously worsening and expanding poverty.
The region would be doomed, because due to the negative stigma associated with the area and all of the negative consequences that come with it, it is almost impossible for an individual living in these areas along the Mississippi to escape poverty without retreating from the area completely.
One organization that is making the commitment to invest along the Mississippi River is the Southern Good Faith Fund.
The Southern Good Faith Fund invests in Mississippi River communities by providing loans to businesses in the area, giving grants for home ownership and utilities, and fighting to change public policy to help the poorest Americans living in Mississippi.
However, it is clear that America has not been as quick to help the Americans living along the Mississippi River as it has been to help needy people in other areas of the country.
It is up to every American citizen to make sure that these poor Americans in southern states like Mississippi and Louisiana are not forgotten. Help change a life today.
References:
United States Census Bureau
Southern Good Faith Fund
