State by State Comparison: 3 Ways to Count Rural People with Disabilities

There is no state in which all three categories have the same numbers.

After RTC: Rural published two fact sheets on the national distribution of Americans with disabilities, callers began asking for state-specific information. Many assume that there is only one definition of rural, but federal and state transportation, healthcare, housing and other agencies actually determine eligibility for rural programs using many distinct, inconsistent definitions with varied population thresholds and geographic boundaries.

Funding decisions and access to services are often affected by how people are counted and geographic areas are classified. Our research shows only 35 U.S. counties without rural people with disabilities, and almost half of rural Americans with disabilities live in metropolitan counties. County-based classification schemes (i.e. metro/non-metro) may not reflect significant socioeconomic disparities and the experiences and access to services of citizens with disabilities. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) says that county-oriented funding formulas and eligibility criteria may not accurately address local rural issues. The U.S. Government Accountability Office suggests that density measures (i.e. rural/urban) better reflect where people live. The U.S. Department of Transportation blends these approaches.

However, until funding formulas change, it pays to know the important differences in definitions and the populations they reflect. Understanding which definition an agency uses to determine eligibility and allocate funding can help you use appropriate numbers when applying for resources to support rural programs.

The following table shows Census 2000 data for each state’s population of non-institutionalized civilians with disabilities, age 5 and older. Column A is the total number of people with disabilities. Columns B and C show the number and percent of people with a disability who are rural. Columns D and E show the number and percent of people with a disability who are non-metro. Columns F and G show the number and percent of people with a disability who are non-urbanized. Except for the District of Columbia, which has no rural, non-metropolitan or non-urbanized people, no state has the same numbers in all three categories. See below for definitions of terms.

Census 2000: Non-institutionalized Civilians with Disability, Age 5 & Older, by State

Description of Table

State	Population w/disability	Rural population w/disability	% of population w/disability who are rural (B/A)	Non-metro population w/disability	% of population w/disability who are non-metro (D/A)	Non-urbanized population w/disability	% of population w/disability who are non-urbanized (F/A)
Alabama	945,705	449,075	47.5%	306,364	32.4%	564,486	59.7%
Alaska	83,220	28,875	34.7%	30,948	37.2%	45,803	55.0%
Arizona	902,252	121,590	13.5%	125,475	13.9%	240,523	26.7%
Arkansas	576,471	285,148	49.5%	273,723	47.5%	408,128	70.8%
California	5,923,361	336,295	5.7%	159,076	2.7%	709,468	12.0%
Colorado	638,654	93,499	14.6%	97,272	15.2%	157,810	24.7%
Connecticut	546,813	52,352	9.6%	46,990	8.6%	75,428	13.8%
Delaware	131,794	28,852	21.9%	32,409	24.6%	48,538	36.8%
D.C.	115,980	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Florida	3,274,566	364,977	11.1%	241,068	7.4%	543,847	16.6%
Georgia	1,456,812	460,511	31.6%	357,609	24.5%	643,070	44.1%
Hawaii	199,819	17,717	8.9%	60,824	30.4%	66,505	33.3%
Idaho	200,498	69,017	34.4%	77,973	38.9%	109,668	54.7%
Illinois	1,999,717	226,356	11.3%	294,589	14.7%	429,283	21.5%
Indiana	1,054,757	291,990	27.7%	256,794	24.3%	470,601	44.6%
Iowa	446,665	163,560	36.6%	219,046	49.0%	279,429	62.6%
Kansas	429,687	122,247	28.5%	178,511	41.5%	243,351	56.6%
Kentucky	874,156	430,345	49.2%	454,077	51.9%	590,435	67.5%
Louisiana	880,047	250,237	28.4%	237,731	27.0%	395,570	44.9%
Maine	237,910	140,435	59.0%	109,077	45.8%	179,591	75.5%
Maryland	854,345	115,460	13.5%	48,331	5.7%	166,632	19.5%
Massachusetts	1,084,746	71,601	6.6%	4,311	0.4%	99,829	9.2%
Michigan	1,711,231	421,938	24.7%	328,308	19.2%	563,443	32.9%
Minnesota	679,236	200,497	29.5%	217,887	32.1%	321,979	47.4%
Mississippi	607,570	327,708	53.9%	374,829	61.7%	479,527	78.9%
Missouri	973,637	317,632	32.6%	306,831	31.5%	466,509	47.9%
Montana	145,732	65,001	44.6%	95,253	65.4%	107,233	73.6%
Nebraska	250,534	75,797	30.3%	122,545	48.9%	140,568	56.1%
Nevada	375,910	30,832	8.2%	42,064	11.2%	58,242	15.5%
New Hampshire	193,893	74,944	38.7%	79,311	40.9%	107,778	55.6%
New Jersey	1,389,811	62,227	4.5%	0	0.0%	89,787	6.5%
New Mexico	338,430	84,599	25.0%	132,616	39.2%	183,328	54.2%
New York	3,606,147	387,451	10.7%	285,109	7.9%	586,640	16.3%
N. Carolina	1,540,365	678,711	44.1%	571,741	37.1%	917,854	59.6%
North Dakota	97,817	44,337	45.3%	58,138	59.4%	64,721	66.2%
Ohio	1,909,489	413,205	21.6%	391,728	20.5%	20.5%	35.4%
Oklahoma	676,098	248,481	36.8%	278,179	41.1%	410,428	60.7%
Oregon	593,301	134,508	22.7%	165,004	27.8%	276,721	46.6%
Pennsylvania	2,111,771	456,234	21.6%	354,373	16.8%	680,244	32.2%
Rhode Island	195,806	13,599	6.9%	0	0.0%	17,776	9.1%
South Carolina	810,857	348,046	42.9%	226,163	27.9%	466,373	57.5%
South Dakota	114,619	54,894	47.9%	70,248	61.3%	85,480	74.6%
Tennessee	1,149,693	449,249	39.1%	363,848	31.6%	599,608	52.2%
Texas	3,605,542	687,700	19.1%	588,730	16.3%	1,148,486	31.9%
Utah	298,686	36,612	12.3%	40,410	13.5%	66,794	22.4%
Vermont	97,167	57,842	59.5%	69,978	72.0%	83,307	85.7%
Virginia	1,155,083	377,370	32.7%	240,093	20.8%	470,931	40.8%
Washington	981,007	184,199	18.8%	141,790	14.5%	280,388	28.6%
West Virginia	410,781	230,177	56.0%	205,404	50.0%	305,658	74.4%
Wisconsin	790,917	242,414	30.7%	238,582	30.2%	364,371	46.1%
Wyoming	77,143	25,987	33.7%	52,901	68.6%	56,025	72.6%
U.S. Totals	49,746,248	10,852,330	21.8%	9,654,261	19.4%	16,544,216	33.3%

Research & Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, The University of Montana Rural Institute, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812-7056; 888-268-2743 toll-free; 406-243-5467 (V) 406-243-4200 (TTY); 406-243-2349 (fax), send email ; http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Definitions

Urban & Rural: The U.S. Census Bureau defines rural and urban areas by population density. Areas may cross county or state lines and aren't geographically tied to counties. While not accounting for economic diversity, population density more accurately reflects the aerial view of a settled area. To understand rural America in this context, it is important to define four key U.S. Census terms: urban, urbanized area, urban cluster, and rural areas.

Urban: Territory, population and housing units located within urbanized areas and urban clusters.

Urbanized area: A densely-settled area with a Census population of at least 50,000. A typical urbanized area has more than 500 people per square mile and consists of all or part of one or more incorporated places, such as towns.

Urban cluster: A densely settled area with a census population of 2,500 to 49,999.

Rural areas: Territory, population, and housing units located outside of urbanized areas or urban clusters. Rural areas have fewer than 2,500 people or areas where people live in open country.

Metropolitan & Non-metropolitan: OMB designates Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Metropolitan and non-metropolitan statistical areas are geographically tied to counties. All locations and people within a county which is a part of a metropolitan statistical area are assumed to be metropolitan.

Metropolitan county: A central county with (1) one or more urbanized areas each having a population of 50,000 or more residents, plus (2) any outlying counties in which at least 25 percent of the working age population commute to the central county for work or in which 25 percent of the outlying county’s workers commute from the central county – the so-called "reverse" commuting pattern.

Non-metropolitan county: Classified as either a "non-metropolitan, micropolitan" or "non-metropolitan, non-core" county. Non-metropolitan, micropolitan counties have one or more urban clusters (towns) of 10,000 to 49,999 persons. As with metropolitan counties, a micropolitan area can have one or more counties, and outlying counties are affected by commuting patterns. Non-metropolitan, non-core counties contain no town (urban cluster) of at least 10,000 people.

Source: OMB, Census 2000, www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Rurality/Newdefinitions/

Urbanized & Non-urbanized: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) uses population density to designate urbanized and non-urbanized areas, which may cross county or state lines and are not tied geographically to counties. DOT uses Census urban and rural definitions (see above), but usually doesn't add urban clusters to the urban figures. In effect, non-urbanized means rural plus urban clusters.

Resources

Disability Counts is RTC: Rural’s web site with maps and detailed disability data: http://DisabilityCounts.org

Frequently Asked Questions: Applying 2000 Census data to urbanized and urban areas: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/census/faqa2cdt.htm

Seekins, T. & Enders, A. (2005). Update on the Demography of Rural Disability. Part One: Rural and Urban. (RuralFacts). Missoula: The University of Montana Rural Institute. Posted at http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/RuDis/RuDemography.html

Seekins, T. & Enders, A. (2005). Update on The Demography of Rural Disability. Part Two: Non-metropolitan and Metropolitan. (RuralFacts) Missoula: The University of Montana Rural Institute. Posted at http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/RuDis/NonMetro.html

For more information, contact: Alexandra Enders, RTC: Rural, The University of Montana Rural Institute, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812-7056; 888-268-2743 toll-free; 406-243-5467 (V) 406-243-4200 (TTY); 406-243-2349 (fax), send email ; http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu

U.S. Department of Education,
National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research Grant #H133B70017-01
supports our research. Opinions expressed are the authors’ and are not
necessarily those of the Dept. of Education.

Authors: Alexandra Enders and Zach Brandt, RTC: Rural 2007.

This factsheet is also available in standard print, large print, Braille, & text file on disk.

Ruralfacts