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War Fatalities Hurt Small Town America

Posted by: Michael Dudley

21 February 2007 - 5:00am

Small towns and rural areas hit by economic downturns have seen many of their young people enlist for lack of other opportunities -- and as a result they represent almost half of U.S. war fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Across the nation, small towns are quietly bearing the burden of the war in Iraq. Nearly half of the more than 3,100 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq have come from towns where fewer than 25,000 people live, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. One in five hailed from hometowns with fewer than 5,000 people."

"Many of the hometowns of the war dead aren't just small in population, they're poor. The AP analysis found that nearly three-quarters of those killed in Iraq came from towns where the per capita income was below the national average."

"Diminished opportunities are one factor in higher military enlistment rates in rural areas. From 1997 to 2003, 1.5 million rural workers lost their jobs because of changes in industries like manufacturing that have traditionally employed rural workers, according to the Carsey Institute."

Full Story: Fatalities from Iraq war hit U.S. small towns hard
Source: Associated Press, February 20, 2007
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One of the keys to regional and local prosperity is the ability to attract and retain high-skilled people. ... Many people can, and do, choose where they want to live based on factors beyond their ability to make a living.
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