The Minnesota distribution of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, was studied during 1998 and 1999. The majority of tick collecting was done by grouse hunters, who sent in specimens collected during the fall of 1998 and 1999. I. scapularis specimens were received from 17 counties, including eight counties in northern and central Minnesota that previously had no reports of I. scapularis. Th...

This study analyzes the 1993 National Directory of HMOs to determine the extent to which rural counties are included in health maintenance organization (HMO) service areas. Two specific questions are addressed: (1) How do the patterns of service areas differ across HMO model types? (2) What are the characteristics that distinguish rural counties served by HMOs from those that are not? Although ...

Ensuring access to dental care, particularly for children, is a significant policy concern in the United States. Many factors affect access on both the provider and patient sides. This study examines an important factor in the ability to access dental care: the distribution and availability of dental health providers. The authors assess providers across the counties of Pennsylvania, primarily u...

There are substantial differences in the relative size of tax bases across counties in Georgia. These differences mean that the ability or capacity to raise revenue differs across the State. For example, counties with large property tax bases per capita, i.e., those with large manufacturing facilities or power plants, have greater revenue raising potential than purely agricultural counties. Thi...

Of the 993 U.S. counties experiencing at least ] year of natural population decrease (deaths outnumbering births) from 1950-87, 95 percent were nonmetro counties. The primary cause of local natural decrease today is oulmigration of young adults, not inadequate fertility rates. Counties facing such long-term natural decrease may undergo significant financial stress, due to an erosion of property...

Human capital raises rural incomes, but this effect is swamped by higher returns to human capital in urban markets. This leads to “brain drain” from rural areas. Populations grow more rapidly in rural counties that have a diversified employment base. Farm population grows faster (or declines more slowly) in counties with relatively high farm income, and nonfarm populations grow faster in counti...

Spatial econometric methods are used to investigate whether land use changes in one county are affected by changes in surrounding counties. Spatial dependence is hypothesized to arise from land substitution effects among neighboring counties. The estimation uses data on land use change for 1,055 counties of 12 Midwest states. ∗ The authors are PhD candidate, assistant professor and professor, r...