Rural population loss may have weakened counties' ability to respond to pandemic; see interactive state-level data

Kentucky population change in urban (orange) vs. rural (blue)
counties. The black line is the statewide change. (Pew chart)

Nearly two in three rural counties have lost residents since 2010, compared with one in three urban counties, according to recently released Census Bureau data; that has likely hampered their ability to respond to the covid-19 pandemic, Jeff Chapman reports for The Pew Charitable Trusts: "Population losses weaken a region’s fiscal and economic health, eroding its workforce and productivity as well as the tax revenue available to fund health care programs." Since counties are critical providers of hospital and health services, Chapman reports.

Pew shows state-level population trends with a set of interactive charts where users can see urban vs. rural population trends and toggle rural or urban counties off for better clarity (see above for example). Though there are outliers in both rural and urban counties, the difference is noticeable.

"As state and federal policymakers craft responses to the pandemic, they should keep in mind the hurdles faced by local governments in rural areas," Chapman writes.