As long as the information from the Bureau for Labor Statistics regarding wages was posted, I thought it would be interesting to let you know a few other statistics about our Fair County. After all, if you don’t know where you are, it’s tough to see if you have made any progress. This information was gathered from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania website - www.ruralpa.org - and is quite interesting. It becomes even more interesting when you start comparing Susquehanna County to other similar counties in the Commonwealth.
POPULATION
Starting with the basics: Susquehanna County has about 823 square miles. The estimated population as of 2006 was 41,889 or 51 people per square mile. The population appears to have declined by roughly eight tenths of a percent (0.8%) since the 2000 census.
Of these 41,889 citizens, the average age in 2006 was 41.4. 22.3% or about 9,431 were under 18. Remember that number, you will see it again soon. 61.9% or about 25,929 are between the ages of 18 and 64. Roughly 15.8% or 6,618 are over 65. Due to rounding, there is one missing citizen, sorry.
INCOME
There were 16,529 households which had a median household income in 2004 of $36,104, the latest year available on this site. By the way, this was reduction in household income from 2002 by 0.4%. In 2005, the average annual wage was $24,487, which was an increase of 5.4%from 1995. If you check the inflation rate for this 10 year period, I am sure you will find it greatly exceeds 5.4%. By the way, the $24,487 annual figure works out to be just under $471 per week. This is in line with the information posted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report for 1st Quarter, 2007.
POVERTY
The estimated poverty rate increased from 10.6% to 11.5% from 2002 to 2004, again, the most recent years available on this site. The estimated poverty rate for children under 18 increased from 15.6% to 17.6% for the same time period. Remember the statistic above which said there are 9,431 under 18? This works out to about 1,644 children under 18 who live in Susquehanna County who included in the estimated poverty rate. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
The percentage of the population receiving Cash Assistance declined from 1.6% to 1.2% betweeen June, 2005 and June, 2007. This means that of the 41,889 citizens, as of June, 2007, about 502 were receiving cash assistance.
The percentage of the population eligible for Medical Assistance also decreased from 16.2% to 16% or 6,702 who were eligible as of June, 2007.
The population participating in the Food Stamp Program for the same time period increased from 7.5% to 8.2%, or 3,435 as of June, 2007.
Finally, the population participating in the WIC program declined from June, 2005 to June, 2007 from 2.5% to 2.3% or about 963.
LABOR FORCE
There were 8,964 total employees in the second quarter of 2006. Of these, 7.8% worked in the manufacturing sector; 17.7% worked in the wholesale and retail trade sectors; mining, construction, utilities & transportation & warehousing comprised of 11.9%; information, finance, insurance, real estate & rental & leasingwere 4.3%; education services, professional, scientific & technical services accounted for another 2.2%; while health care and social assistance made up 14.9%; and other sectors accounted for 41.2%.
In 2000, there were 19,072 employed persons who were 16 or older. 26.3% were employed in professional or management jobs. Another 22.5% were employed in “white collar” jobs. Service jobs accounted for 14% of the total. 37.3% were employed with “Blue Collar” jobs.
UNEMPLOYMENT
The Unemployment Rate has steadily dropped from 2002 through 2006, the latest year available on this site. Starting in 2002 - 6.3%; 2003 - 6.1%; 2004 - 5.7%, 2005 - 5.1%; 2006 - 4.8%.
Enough numbers for one day. The purpose here is to acquaint you who may not be aware of the general health of Susquehanna County. Later, there will be more statistics, but for now, you have been acquainted with the population, wages, employment and poverty in out county.
The parting thought for the day is this - What government or non-government solution can you come up with to deal with the Under 18 group of who live in poverty here as well as other countries?