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 |