Patterns of rural community involvement: a comparison of residents and recent immigrants ( Great Lakes region).

Among the demographic changes which occurred in the US during the 1970s was the well-documented reversal in the net flow of migrants between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. Although a relatively large body of literature has provided a detailed demographic description of the population turnaround, few studies have addressed the consequences and implications of this rural renaissance. Based on sample survey data collected from 992 households located in 37 fast-growing nonmetropolitan counties in the Upper Great Lakes Region, the patterns and levels of community involvement are analyzed for metropolitan-origin migrants, nonmetropolitan-origin migrants, and longterm residents. It is found that newcomers, over time, tend to become as involved in their new communities as the oldtimers they are joining. Moreover, socioeconomic status is shown to positively affect levels of formal participation in community activities for both migrants and residents.-Authors