Figure 9. Location of counties in which poverty rates are at least two standard deviations lower than the national mean. These counties are termed spatial outliers because they are surrounded by counties in which the poverty rates are well above the national mean. The counties, termed sunbelt oases, correspond to rapidly urbanizing areas. The continental poverty divide is defined as the distinctive north–south divide across most of the United States, in which concentrations of low poverty and spatial outliers of high poverty are confined to the northern half, and concentrations of high poverty and spatial outliers of low poverty are confined to the southern half. Data source: Community Health Status Indicators (1).

Volume 4: No. 4, October 2007