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When Rural Areas Change Focus And Demographics

Skitterphoto/Pixabay

We know the story well in parts of our region: rural areas that once had thriving economies and neighborhoods have been hollowed out by the closing of timber mills and the hollowing-out of the farm economy.

With the old options mostly gone, some areas turn to attracting new visitors and residents, through tourism and retirement and vacation-home ownership. Jennifer Sherman focuses on one small town in Washington in her book Dividing Paradise: Rural Inequality and the Diminishing American Dream.

She checks in with both sides of the rural divide, and shares her findings with us.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily talk show focused on news and interests across our region of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.