Poverty Rates in Oklahoma
The Rural Areas and Major Cities with High Amounts of Poverty
Jul 20, 2008
With a poverty rate of 14.0%, Oklahoma has the 13th highest poverty rate in the United States. This is just slightly better than the poverty rate of New York, and just slightly higher than the poverty rate of North Carolina.
Where the Worst Poverty in Oklahoma Occurs
Though the poverty rates in counties and major cities within Oklahoma stay relatively close to the state average, there is one county and one major city with critical poverty rates.
The county with a critical poverty rate (at least 50% above the state average) is Choctaw County, with a poverty rate of 21.1% (see map below article).
The major city (25,000 people or more) with a critical poverty rate is Stillwater, with a poverty rate of 27.3%.
Though the poverty rates in Oklahoma may stay relatively close to the state average, this is not necessarily a good thing, as Oklahoma has one of the highest poverty rates in the country.
With this in mind, there is only one major city (Broken Arrow) and no counties where the poverty rate dips 50% below the state average. Because of this, it is important to look at reasons for rural and urban poverty across most of the entire state.
Why the Worst Poverty in Oklahoma Exists
Since the areas with the highest poverty rates in Oklahoma occur both in major cities and in rural areas, it is important to realize the reasons behind both.
In rural areas, it can be much more difficult to access basic utilities such as electricity, water, and a sanitary sewage system than it is in urban areas.
Also, due to poor road maintenance, long distances, or lack of reliable transportation, it can be much more difficult to reach a school or hospital in some rural areas.
In the major cities of Oklahoma, however, the higher poverty rates can be linked to a different set of causes.
In heavily populated urban areas, people are completely reliant on the market for all of their most basic needs. These needs include things like food, shelter, utilities, education, and health care.
Most people living in poverty do work one or more jobs. However, if the cost of these basic needs goes up at a faster rate than the minimum wage, then the working poor living in these highly populated urban areas suffer.
The inability of people in these circumstances to save up assets makes them extremely vulnerable to any sort of crisis as well.
Many of these poverty problems could be solved through urban planning techniques and policies, which are the focus of this blog.
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 Oklahoma
Due to Oklahoma's high ranking as a poverty-stricken state, and the lack of any cities or counties well below the average, it is apparent that not as much is being done about poverty in Oklahoma alone.
However, there are many national organizations working to keep poverty low such as the Red Cross, Save the Children, Poverty USA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Second Harvest, and United Way, among others.
In addition to these organizations, legislators who fought to raise the federal minimum wage did a great service to the working poor in urban Oklahoma.
With a higher minimum wage, working-class people will be better able to sustain themselves and their families without federal assistance.
References:
United States Census Bureau
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