These rural counties showed a significant decline in life expectancy for men and women from 1983 to 1999, based on a report by researchers at Harvard University:

State

County

County
Seat

Population in 2000

Life Expectancy in 1983

Life Expectancy in 1999

AL

Marion

Hamilton

31,214

79.72

77.28

AR

Ashley

Hamburg

24,209

77.32

73.47

AR

Fulton

Salem

11,642

80.97

77.42

AR

Greene

Paragould

37,331

78.49

76.88

AR

Izard

Melbourne

13,249

80.97

77.42

FL

Union

Lake Butler

13,442

77.06

74.90

LA

Caldwell

Columbia

10,560

77.68

76.36

LA

Richland

Rayville

20,981

77.68

76.36

MS

Lafayette

Oxford

38,744

79.67

77.38

MS

Sunflower

Indianola

34,369

76.70

73.09

MO

Iron

Ironton

10,697

78.99

75.74

MO

Madison

Fredericktown

11,800

78.99

75.74

NC

Martin

Williamston

25,593

76.51

73.72

OK

Pontotoc

Ada

35,143

78.92

75.26

TN

Bledsoe

Pikeville

12,367

79.28

76.57

TN

Clay

Celina

7,976

79.19

76.59

TN

Jackson

Gainesboro

10,984

79.19

76.59

TN

Mcnairy

Selmer

24,653

79.38

76.12

TN

Pickett

Byrdstown

4,945

79.19

76.59

TN

Van Buren

Spencer

5,508

79.28

76.57

TN

White

Sparta

23,102

79.28

76.57

TX

Anderson

Palestine

55,109

77.82

76.20

TX

Houston

Crockett

23,185

78.53

75.35

TX

Walker

Huntsville

61,758

80.17

78.62

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