Agenda - 10-05-1999 - 10c - Laserfiche WebLink

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Amongst single householders, females without children were slightly less likely to be poor than their male counterparts. The number of female householders without children in poverty was 10% compared to 11 % for male householders without children. The existence of children has a significant impact upon the occurrence of poverty. Overall, irrespective of family status (i.e. single or married), a greater percentage of Orange County households with children (9%) were impoverished, than their counter- parts without children (4%). Among the different family types in the County poverty was most acutely felt by single women who had more than one child between the ages of 5- 17 and a child less than 5 years of age. Overa1150.9% of the 230 women in this category lived below poverty. Spatial Distribution of Poverty A larger percentage of persons residing in municipal portion of Orange County were living below the poverty line than in rural Orange County. According to the 1990 Census 19% of the county's municipal population (for whom poverty status is determined 45,077) is living below in poverty. Within rural portions of the County the number declines by half, 8% of rural Orange County residents (for whom poverty status is determined 39,479) live in poverty. Amongst municipalities the largest concentration of poverty is found in Carrboro, followed by Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and then Mebane. Within rural areas the highest incidence of poverty, for residents for whom poverty status is determined, is found in rural portions of Cheeks township where 11 % of residents are poor, Cedar Grove follows closely at 10%, while rural. portions of Hillsborough are at 9%. Household Income Household income refers to the annual income of a householder and all other persons, related or unrelated, 15 years of older that are living together. Because of the inclusion of one person households in this measure, household income is usually lower than family income. Median household income refers to the income value that 50% of all Orange County household are above and 50°lo are below. In 1989 the median income for an Orange County household was $29,968, when converted to 1997 dollars the value increases to $42, 685. Compared to counties in the Planning J region and the state the median income for an Orange County household, in 1989, is lower ,than their counterparts in Wake and Durham and higher than that of the state. Median Household Income, Planning J Region County . 1989 dollars 1997 dollars Orange $29,968 $42,685 Chatham $28,539 $36,940 Durham $30,526 $39,511 Johnston $25,169 $32,578 Lee $26,419 $34,196 Wake $36,222 $46,884 North Carolina $26,647 $34,491 Source: 1990 US Census 9