Definitions of ERS/USDA of Policy Types Categories

Definition of Policy Types in Economic Research Service/USDA County Typology Codes (2004)

Low Education
25% or more of residents 25-64 years old had neither a high school diploma nor GED in 2000.

Low Employment
Less than 65% of residents 21-64 years old were employed in 2000

Persistent Poverty
20% or more of residents were poor as measured by each of the last 4 censuses, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000

Population Loss
Number of residents declined both between the 1980 and 1990 censuses and between the 1990 and 2000 censuses