Segregation: A Comparison of Racial and Economic Segregation between Metro and Nonmetro Counties

P. Johnelle Sparks, University of Texas at San Antonio
Corey S. Sparks, University of Texas at San Antonio
Joey Campbell, University of Texas at San Antonio

The purpose of this research is to examine multiple dimensions of racial and economic segregation in the United States in 2000 for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Additionally we explore potential variation in these measures of segregation based on the level of rurality in nonmetro counties, with specific attention given to population size of the rural areas in the county and adjacency of the county to metro counties. Data for this analysis come from the 2000 U.S. Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 3 (block and county data) and the Economic Research Service. This research adds to the literature by using spatial methods to explore patterns of metro and nonmetro racial and economic segregation across counties in the contiguous United States in an effort to note differences in how segregation works across rural and urban places.