Table 15. Selected Characteristics of the Population Below the Poverty Level in 1997, by Region and Race Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census Internet Release date: February 24, 1999 (Numbers in thousands. People and families as of March 1998) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Black | White, not Hispanic |------------------------------|------------------------------- | | Below poverty level | | Below poverty level Characteristic | |---------------------| |--------------------- | Total | Number Percent | Total | Number Percent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNITED STATES Age by Sex Total people................................. 34,458 9,116 26.5 191,859 16,491 8.6 Under 18 years.................................... 11,367 4,225 37.2 45,491 5,204 11.4 18 to 64 years.................................... 20,400 4,191 20.5 119,373 9,088 7.6 55 years and over............................... 4,915 1,192 24.3 44,554 3,500 7.9 65 years and over................................. 2,691 700 26.0 26,995 2,200 8.1 Male......................................... 16,076 3,799 23.6 93,976 6,781 7.2 Under 18 years.................................... 5,779 2,139 37.0 23,282 2,656 11.4 18 to 64 years.................................... 9,229 1,427 15.5 59,291 3,577 6.0 55 years and over............................... 2,036 417 20.5 19,922 1,035 5.2 65 years and over................................. 1,068 233 21.8 11,403 548 4.8 Female....................................... 18,382 5,317 28.9 97,883 9,711 9.9 Under 18 years.................................... 5,588 2,086 37.3 22,209 2,548 11.5 18 to 64 years.................................... 11,170 2,764 24.7 60,083 5,511 9.2 55 years and over............................... 2,879 775 26.9 24,632 2,465 10.0 65 years and over................................. 1,623 467 28.8 15,592 1,652 10.6 Metropolitan-Nonmetropolitan Residence Total people................................. 34,458 9,116 26.5 191,859 16,491 8.6 All metropolitan areas............................ 29,435 7,509 25.5 148,603 10,991 7.4 Inside central cities........................... 18,769 5,311 28.3 42,232 4,260 10.1 Outside central cities.......................... 10,666 2,197 20.6 106,371 6,731 6.3 Nonmetropolitan areas............................. 5,023 1,607 32.0 43,256 5,500 12.7 Family Status 1/ Total people 2/.............................. 34,458 9,116 26.5 191,859 16,491 8.6 In families....................................... 28,962 7,386 25.5 158,796 10,401 6.5 Householder.................................... 8,408 1,985 23.6 52,875 3,357 6.3 Related children under 18 years................ 11,193 4,116 36.8 44,665 4,759 10.7 Other family members........................... 9,361 1,285 13.7 61,256 2,286 3.7 Unrelated individuals............................. 5,316 1,645 31.0 32,049 5,632 17.6 Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family 1/ All families............................... 8,408 1,986 23.6 52,875 3,357 6.3 Married-couple families........................... 3,921 312 8.0 43,427 1,501 3.5 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 3,925 1,562 39.8 6,826 1,598 23.4 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 562 111 19.7 2,622 258 9.9 Related Children Under 18 Years in Families All related children under 18 years in families............................ 11,193 4,116 36.8 44,665 4,759 10.7 Married-couple families........................... 4,556 581 12.8 35,635 1,852 5.2 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 6,157 3,402 55.3 6,860 2,551 37.2 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 480 132 27.6 2,170 355 16.4 Civilian Noninstitutionalized Work Experience in 1997 Both sexes, 15 years and over................ 24,873 5,491 22.1 153,607 11,997 7.8 Worked............................................ 16,145 2,013 12.5 107,298 5,021 4.7 50 to 52 weeks................................. 11,620 689 5.9 79,442 1,885 2.4 49 weeks or less............................... 4,525 1,323 29.2 27,856 3,136 11.3 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 260 80 30.6 1,950 179 9.2 5 to 14 weeks............................ 605 162 26.8 3,111 300 9.7 15 to 26 weeks........................... 611 182 29.8 2,188 326 14.9 27 weeks or more......................... 582 249 42.8 1,431 404 28.2 Did not work...................................... 8,729 3,478 39.9 46,309 6,976 15.1 Males, 15 years and over..................... 11,187 1,960 17.5 74,164 4,485 6.0 Worked............................................ 7,472 673 9.0 56,893 2,155 3.8 50 to 52 weeks................................. 5,477 210 3.8 44,195 856 1.9 49 weeks or less............................... 1,995 463 23.2 12,698 1,299 10.2 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 119 26 21.8 954 54 5.7 5 to 14 weeks............................ 298 65 21.7 1,779 130 7.3 15 to 26 weeks........................... 272 42 15.6 1,334 182 13.6 27 weeks or more......................... 313 119 38.2 847 224 26.4 Did not work...................................... 3,716 1,287 34.6 17,271 2,330 13.5 Females, 15 years and over................... 13,686 3,532 25.8 79,443 7,511 9.5 Worked............................................ 8,673 1,340 15.4 50,404 2,866 5.7 50 to 52 weeks................................. 6,143 479 7.8 35,247 1,029 2.9 49 weeks or less............................... 2,530 861 34.0 15,157 1,837 12.1 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 141 54 38.1 997 125 12.5 5 to 14 weeks............................ 307 98 31.8 1,332 171 12.8 15 to 26 weeks........................... 339 139 41.1 853 144 16.9 27 weeks or more......................... 269 130 48.1 584 180 30.9 Did not work...................................... 5,013 2,192 43.7 29,038 4,646 16.0 SOUTH Age by Sex Total people................................. 19,021 4,895 25.7 63,073 6,051 9.6 Under 18 years.................................... 6,250 2,264 36.2 14,284 1,825 12.8 18 to 64 years.................................... 11,365 2,222 19.6 39,624 3,356 8.5 55 years and over............................... 2,553 676 26.5 15,154 1,354 8.9 65 years and over................................. 1,406 408 29.0 9,165 871 9.5 Male......................................... 8,870 2,021 22.8 30,790 2,413 7.8 Under 18 years.................................... 3,145 1,151 36.6 7,123 871 12.2 18 to 64 years.................................... 5,194 736 14.2 19,796 1,336 6.7 55 years and over............................... 1,024 223 21.7 6,806 379 5.6 65 years and over................................. 531 134 25.3 3,870 206 5.3 Female....................................... 10,151 2,874 28.3 32,284 3,638 11.3 Under 18 years.................................... 3,104 1,113 35.9 7,161 953 13.3 18 to 64 years.................................... 6,172 1,487 24.1 19,828 2,020 10.2 55 years and over............................... 1,529 454 29.7 8,347 975 11.7 65 years and over................................. 875 274 31.3 5,295 664 12.5 Metropolitan-Nonmetropolitan Residence Total people................................. 19,021 4,895 25.7 63,073 6,051 9.6 All metropolitan areas............................ 14,457 3,433 23.7 46,333 3,619 7.8 Inside central cities........................... 8,247 2,154 26.1 12,418 1,002 8.1 Outside central cities.......................... 6,210 1,279 20.6 33,915 2,617 7.7 Nonmetropolitan areas............................. 4,564 1,462 32.0 16,741 2,432 14.5 Family Status 1/ Total people 2/.............................. 19,021 4,895 25.7 63,073 6,051 9.6 In families....................................... 16,125 3,979 24.7 52,708 4,072 7.7 Householder.................................... 4,721 1,077 22.8 18,083 1,331 7.4 Related children under 18 years................ 6,135 2,198 35.8 14,078 1,705 12.1 Other family members........................... 5,269 704 13.4 20,547 1,036 5.0 Unrelated individuals............................. 2,791 879 31.5 10,120 1,848 18.3 Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family 1/ All families............................... 4,721 1,077 22.8 18,083 1,331 7.4 Married-couple families........................... 2,261 171 7.5 15,002 693 4.6 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 2,155 848 39.4 2,214 548 24.7 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 305 58 19.1 867 90 10.4 Related Children Under 18 Years in Families All related children under 18 years in families............................ 6,135 2,198 35.8 14,078 1,705 12.1 Married-couple families........................... 2,585 275 10.7 11,333 809 7.1 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 3,277 1,846 56.3 2,056 788 38.3 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 272 76 28.0 689 107 15.6 Civilian Noninstitutionalized Work Experience in 1997 Both sexes, 15 years and over................ 13,791 2,987 21.7 51,025 4,476 8.8 Worked............................................ 9,265 1,156 12.5 34,667 1,743 5.0 50 to 52 weeks................................. 6,746 417 6.2 26,216 647 2.5 49 weeks or less............................... 2,520 739 29.3 8,451 1,096 13.0 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 182 66 36.1 636 51 8.1 5 to 14 weeks............................ 283 85 29.9 902 96 10.7 15 to 26 weeks........................... 320 115 36.0 639 132 20.7 27 weeks or more......................... 294 116 39.5 384 138 36.0 Did not work...................................... 4,526 1,832 40.5 16,358 2,733 16.7 Males, 15 years and over..................... 6,234 1,057 17.0 24,732 1,662 6.7 Worked............................................ 4,337 359 8.3 18,593 737 4.0 50 to 52 weeks................................. 3,253 118 3.6 14,744 292 2.0 49 weeks or less............................... 1,084 241 22.2 3,849 445 11.6 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 86 26 30.2 342 13 3.7 5 to 14 weeks............................ 120 28 23.3 518 45 8.8 15 to 26 weeks........................... 130 23 17.6 381 76 19.9 27 weeks or more......................... 173 60 34.7 215 76 35.1 Did not work...................................... 1,897 698 36.8 6,139 925 15.1 Females, 15 years and over................... 7,558 1,931 25.5 26,293 2,814 10.7 Worked............................................ 4,929 797 16.2 16,074 1,006 6.3 50 to 52 weeks................................. 3,493 299 8.6 11,472 355 3.1 49 weeks or less............................... 1,435 498 34.7 4,602 651 14.1 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 96 40 41.4 294 39 13.1 5 to 14 weeks............................ 164 57 34.8 384 51 13.2 15 to 26 weeks........................... 190 92 48.7 258 57 21.9 27 weeks or more......................... 121 56 46.4 169 63 37.1 Did not work...................................... 2,629 1,134 43.1 10,219 1,808 17.7 NORTH AND WEST Age by Sex Total people................................. 15,437 4,221 27.3 128,786 10,440 8.1 Under 18 years.................................... 5,118 1,961 38.3 31,207 3,379 10.8 18 to 64 years.................................... 9,034 1,969 21.8 79,750 5,732 7.2 55 years and over............................... 2,361 516 21.8 29,400 2,146 7.3 65 years and over................................. 1,285 291 22.7 17,830 1,329 7.5 Male......................................... 7,206 1,778 24.7 63,186 4,367 6.9 Under 18 years.................................... 2,634 989 37.5 16,159 1,785 11.0 18 to 64 years.................................... 4,036 691 17.1 39,495 2,241 5.7 55 years and over............................... 1,011 194 19.2 13,116 656 5.0 65 years and over................................. 537 99 18.4 7,533 342 4.5 Female....................................... 8,231 2,443 29.7 65,600 6,073 9.3 Under 18 years.................................... 2,484 972 39.1 15,048 1,595 10.6 18 to 64 years.................................... 4,998 1,278 25.6 40,255 3,491 8.7 55 years and over............................... 1,350 321 23.8 16,285 1,490 9.1 65 years and over................................. 749 193 25.7 10,297 987 9.6 Metropolitan-Nonmetropolitan Residence Total people................................. 15,437 4,221 27.3 128,786 10,440 8.1 All metropolitan areas............................ 14,978 4,076 27.2 102,270 7,372 7.2 Inside central cities........................... 10,522 3,157 30.0 29,814 3,259 10.9 Outside central cities.......................... 4,456 919 20.6 72,457 4,114 5.7 Nonmetropolitan areas............................. 459 145 31.6 26,516 3,068 11.6 Family Status 1/ Total people 2/.............................. 15,437 4,221 27.3 128,786 10,440 8.1 In families....................................... 12,837 3,407 26.5 106,088 6,329 6.0 Householder.................................... 3,687 909 24.6 34,792 2,026 5.8 Related children under 18 years................ 5,058 1,918 37.9 30,587 3,054 10.0 Other family members........................... 4,092 581 14.2 40,709 1,250 3.1 Unrelated individuals............................. 2,525 766 30.3 21,929 3,784 17.3 Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family 1/ All families............................... 3,687 909 24.6 34,792 2,026 5.8 Married-couple families........................... 1,659 142 8.5 28,425 807 2.8 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 1,771 714 40.3 4,612 1,050 22.8 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 257 52 20.4 1,755 168 9.6 Related Children Under 18 Years in Families All related children under 18 years in families............................ 5,058 1,918 37.9 30,587 3,054 10.0 Married-couple families........................... 1,970 306 15.5 24,302 1,043 4.3 Families with female householder, no spouse present.................................. 2,880 1,556 54.0 4,804 1,763 36.7 Families with male householder, no spouse present.................................. 208 56 27.1 1,480 247 16.7 Civilian Noninstitutionalized Work Experience in 1997 Both sexes, 15 years and over................ 11,082 2,504 22.6 102,582 7,521 7.3 Worked............................................ 6,879 857 12.5 72,631 3,278 4.5 50 to 52 weeks................................. 4,874 273 5.6 53,226 1,238 2.3 49 weeks or less............................... 2,005 584 29.1 19,405 2,040 10.5 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 78 14 17.8 1,315 128 9.7 5 to 14 weeks............................ 322 77 24.1 2,210 204 9.2 15 to 26 weeks........................... 291 66 22.8 1,549 193 12.5 27 weeks or more......................... 288 133 46.1 1,046 266 25.4 Did not work...................................... 4,203 1,647 39.2 29,951 4,243 14.2 Males, 15 years and over..................... 4,953 903 18.2 49,432 2,823 5.7 Worked............................................ 3,135 314 10.0 38,300 1,418 3.7 50 to 52 weeks................................. 2,224 93 4.2 29,451 564 1.9 49 weeks or less............................... 911 221 24.3 8,849 854 9.6 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 33 - - 612 41 6.8 5 to 14 weeks............................ 178 37 20.6 1,261 84 6.7 15 to 26 weeks........................... 142 20 13.8 953 106 11.1 27 weeks or more......................... 140 60 42.6 632 148 23.5 Did not work...................................... 1,819 589 32.4 11,132 1,405 12.6 Females, 15 years and over................... 6,129 1,601 26.1 53,150 4,697 8.8 Worked............................................ 3,745 543 14.5 34,331 1,860 5.4 50 to 52 weeks................................. 2,650 180 6.8 23,775 673 2.8 49 weeks or less............................... 1,095 363 33.1 10,555 1,186 11.2 Duration of unemployment: 1 to 4 weeks............................. 45 14 30.9 703 86 12.3 5 to 14 weeks............................ 143 41 28.4 949 120 12.6 15 to 26 weeks........................... 149 47 31.4 596 87 14.7 27 weeks or more......................... 148 73 49.5 414 117 28.3 Did not work...................................... 2,384 1,058 44.4 18,819 2,838 15.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Data for families include families in group quarters. 2/ Families and unrelated individuals will not add to total people because unrelated subfamilies are not included.