Rural Populations: Annotated Bibliography

By the late 1800s, America was transitioning from an economy based on agriculture to one based on industry. Although this transformation made the United Stated richer and more powerful than it had ever been before, it caused farmers to face numerous problems to which they found themselves unable to successfully overcome. Even though many farmers moved into the industrial workforce, the ones who wished to continue agricultural work faced problems such as overproduction and tariff policies. Also, the farmers lost their political power due to the decreased focus on agriculture.

Rural Oklahoma is filled with small farm communities and small towns. Towns where everyone knows everyone and family is of major importance. Pond Creek Oklahoma is one of those communities with a census approximately 856 residents located in Grant County (Pond Creek, Oklahoma, 2015). This town has strong Christian roots and you get the feel of family, football, and love. There is a small variety of businesses and churches but the primary source of income for the community is agricultural. It isn’t uncommon to see tractors making their way down the highway during planting times and combines during harvest. One thing that the town and its citizens lack is access to health care. There are no medical facilities in the town such

As a person that has grown most of my own food, without chemicals or engine powered equipment, for the last 15 years and lesser so for many more years I can relate to some degree what it may have been like for a farmer in the 1800’s (I even live in a house built in 1850).

America — a land known for its ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the idea that every man and women is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J.Hector St. John Crevecoeur, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in today’s world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than it is today. The definition of an American is always evolving due to the influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Crevecoeur defined an American as someone of European

“Cutting Into the Meatpacking Line: Workers and Change in the Rural Midwest” book, by Deborah Fink, focuses mainly on showing what was happening in the meatpacking’s industry in the rural Midwest of Iowa. It shows that the key factors in the creation the history of the rural working class depended on the different experiences that gender, ethnic and racial minorities faced during the working years in the meatpacking. It shows the painful process of struggling for recognition of the employees ' rights that women, ethnic and racial minorities faced when they were entering into the meatpacking workforce. Fink wrote her book to inform the reader about what was happening in the meatpacking industry of Iowa the old days, and how women, ethnic and racial minorities faced a lot of segregation, discrimination, harassment, and unequal wages.

In the late 19th century, farmers all over the country were filled with discontent due to the rough financial and agricultural conditions they were experiencing on the farm. As far back as the Homestead Act of 1862, which gave families land grants west of the Mississippi, farmers have been migrating West. Manifest Destiny was driving these families west creating jobs and opportunities, which had greatly impacted the time. This period before the late 1800s had produced high numbers of wheat, agricultural technology, and success for hard working farmers. The perfect life started to disintegrate with the increase of farmers, and the high amount of wheat being sold. With wheat prices dropping, farmers going into debt, and businesses controlling the economy, the farmers were starting to experience hardships like never before. This was the start of the depression of 1893. Farmers had experienced a number of problems during this time, but the conflicts of the Bimetallic Standard in currency, the overpowering big businesses, and the lack of government interference had contributed greatly to the validity of the farmers argument.

The article begins defining its demographic, rural native veterans. A veteran is any individual who has served in the military. Secondly, rural veterans include those living in counties with less than seven civilians per square mile (Veterans Health Administration 2008). Finally, native veterans include the following ethnic groups: American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010) American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) veterans comprise the largest minority ethnic group in the VHA of 12 percent. The article, “Health Needs of Rural Native Veterans” addresses health care disparities such as poverty, limited access to care, and education that the identified population is

Opioid abuse, cardiometabolic diseases, and diseases of lifestyle and social fabric are few of the health problems that are predominant in the southeast region of the country. Tennessee is in the lowest 25th quartile in the overall health performance among the low-income population in the southeast region. Hence, there is a need to address specifically, socioeconomic determinants in tackling these problems. These socioeconomic determinants are usually referred to as the causes of the causes of the diseases.

The Industrial Revolution in America began to develop in the mid-eighteen hundreds after the Civil War. Prior to this industrial growth the work force was mainly based in agriculture, especially in the South (“Industrial Revolution”). The advancement in machinery and manufacturing on a large scale changed the structure of the work force. Families began to leave the farm and relocate to larger settings to work in the ever-growing industries. One area that saw a major change in the work force was textile manufacturing. Towns in the early nineteen hundreds were established around mills, and workers were subjected to strenuous working conditions. It would take decades before these issues were

The National Rural Letter Carriers ' Association (NRLCA) is an American labor union that represents Rural letter carriers employed by the United States Postal Service. The NRLCA was formed in 1903, to give the part‐time/full‐time, newly appointed/veteran carriers benefits that they receive today in exchange for their labor; at a cost of fifty cents per year in dues to its members. The corporate office in located in Alexandria, Virginia. Website www.nrlca.org

Rural health professionals represent a diverse set of individuals seeking to meet the main goals of public health. Their desire to promote health and prevent disease is blocked by many barriers, due to the geographical position of their target population; yet they still persevere to serve their specified communities. Approximately twenty percent of America is rural, and rural counties are more likely to report fair to poor health. This particular population cannot be compared to its urban counterparts due the sheer amount of obstacles health care providers and patients face. Rural Americans are shaped by geography and tradition which creates a combination of factors that create disparities.

Farmers in the 1980’s were faced with many challenges due to the farm crisis. Farmers in the Midwest were the most widely affected in the beginning but quickly rippled to other areas. Farmers were in desperate need of a way out of the devastation.

The experience of growing up in a small rural town in Minnesota which borders the Prairie Island Indian Community is the first experience which gives me a unique identity. Every year Prairie Island Tribal Council members came to educate students about their culture through lectures, dance, and band performances. These experiences gave me a better appreciation and understanding of my Mdewakanton classmates. As a result, I see the commonality between people, I am interested in learning about other cultures, and I believe experience rather than merely ethnicity defines diversity. The rural aspect of a small town meant farming and factory work provided employment for many citizens. Therefore, the concept of a strong work ethic was continually modeled.

Farming, it’s what keeps the Earth’s inhabitants fed. This industry is definitely something that has changed over time. It is no question that farmers are now more efficient than ever before. This is due in part to better machinery and techniques. Many people are not familiar with the history of farming.

Farming still contributes to the economy. Throughout the years, farming has changed and developed. New technology was introduced as well as techniques. Let’s take a look at how technology, number of farmers, and rewards have changed since it all began with the pioneers in the late 1800s.