Buchanan County, Virginia?

[Kevin]

Why is Buchanan County VA so Democratic ?I'm from this state and I've always associted this area to be Republican, I guess it's Democratic leaning might have something to do with coal mining though.   

[Alcon]

That and it's really, really poor.

[nini2287]

Wasn't the macaca incident in Buchanan County?

[memphis]

Wasn't the macaca incident in Buchanan County?

Close. Breaks, VA is in neighboring Dickenson County

[Verily]

Wasn't the macaca incident in Buchanan County?

I hardly think that would make a difference unless it has a high black population.

[Padfoot]

The areas of eastern Kentuckey and Southern West Virginia that border Buchanan are also Democratic.  If you look at the national map its easier to see.  It doesn't explain why but it does show a regional trend at least.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The areas of eastern Kentuckey and Southern West Virginia that border Buchanan are also Democratic.  If you look at the national map its easier to see.  It doesn't explain why but it does show a regional trend at least.

That area is the Central Appalachian coalfield

[Verily]

The areas of eastern Kentuckey and Southern West Virginia that border Buchanan are also Democratic.  If you look at the national map its easier to see.  It doesn't explain why but it does show a regional trend at least.

That area is the Central Appalachian coalfield

Indeed. So poor that social issues aren't enough to make them vote Republican.

[WalterMitty]

damn unions.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

damn unions.

I'd love to force you to live in Northeastern Minnesota.

[Colin]

damn unions.

I'd love to force you to live in Northeastern Minnesota.

Well it's not like everyone up there is in a Union. There are probably a few non-union people.

[WalterMitty]

damn unions.

I'd love to force you to live in Northeastern Minnesota.

well, brtd, i was born and raised in southwest virginia.

im quite at home among unionized blue collars and coal miners.  they are the victims.  they are being exploited by corrupt unions.

[minionofmidas]

damn unions.

I'd love to force you to live in Northeastern Minnesota.

well, brtd, i was born and raised in southwest virginia.

im quite at home among unionized blue collars and coal miners.  they are the victims.  they are being exploited by corrupt unions.

Yep. Corrupt in the sense of in league with the employers.

Kevin - Far far SW Virginia has swung quite Republican recently, though Buchanan might've missed out on 2004's swing, but it's long been extremely Democratic. The area also still has a Democratic Congressman, and his district reaches well beyond the core Dem areas there. Now, the Shenandoah Valley, on the other hand... that's very long been Republican.

[WalterMitty]

damn unions.

I'd love to force you to live in Northeastern Minnesota.

well, brtd, i was born and raised in southwest virginia.

im quite at home among unionized blue collars and coal miners.  they are the victims.  they are being exploited by corrupt unions.

Yep. Corrupt in the sense of in league with the employers.

Kevin - Far far SW Virginia has swung quite Republican recently, though Buchanan might've missed out on 2004's swing, but it's long been extremely Democratic. The area also still has a Democratic Congressman, and his district reaches well beyond the core Dem areas there. Now, the Shenandoah Valley, on the other hand... that's very long been Republican.

ive been to buchanan county quite a few times.  the percentage of unionized workers must be pretty low (although high by virginia standards).  why do i say that?  most people there seem to be stuck in deep poverty. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

why do i say that?  most people there seem to be stuck in deep poverty. 

The employment rate in Buchanan county is 36%

[Rob]

Buchanan voted 56-44 for Jim Webb even as it was passing the gay marriage ban 90-10; it also voted 54-46 for John Kerry. I guess people there have more important things to worry about, like jobs. Or healthcare.

[WalterMitty]

Buchanan voted 56-44 for Jim Webb even as it was passing the gay marriage ban 90-10; it also voted 54-46 for John Kerry. I guess people there have more important things to worry about, like jobs. Or healthcare.

well being quite familiar with that area, i can certainly say there will be no quality jobs coming to that area until education is improved.  id really be frightened to see the high school dropout rate there.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

well being quite familiar with that area, i can certainly say there will be no quality jobs coming to that area until education is improved.  id really be frightened to see the high school dropout rate there.

Pretty high; only about 53% of the population are high school graduates.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

well being quite familiar with that area, i can certainly say there will be no quality jobs coming to that area until education is improved.  id really be frightened to see the high school dropout rate there.

Pretty high; only about 53% of the population are high school graduates.

Wow, I know of a village where more people than that have graduate degrees.

[Alcon]

well being quite familiar with that area, i can certainly say there will be no quality jobs coming to that area until education is improved.  id really be frightened to see the high school dropout rate there.

Pretty high; only about 53% of the population are high school graduates.

Wow, I know of a village where more people than that have graduate degrees.

Stanford has way above that.

On the flipside, in the "other California," there's Mecca along the Salton Sea, which has a 17.7% high school graduation rate.  Huron, outside of Fresno, has not a single person among over 7,000 who received a bachelor's degree, and fares not much better in high school graduation rates.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

As a random question to those who might know (nothing really to do with this thread but continuing on it's theme):

1) What the poorest county in America is.

2) What the richest county in America is. (Orange?)

3) What the "least white" (as in highest percentage of minorities) county in America is.

4) What county has the lowest number of minority groups residing there.

Would be greatly appreciated.

[Alcon]

1) What the poorest county in America is.

Arguable, but Buffalo and Shannon counties in South Dakota are probably the best option.  Extraordinary poverty rates, extraordinarily low incomes, extraordinarily high unemployment.  Lots of homes without even plumbing.

2) What the richest county in America is. (Orange?)

Much more arguable.  Options include Marin, CA; Rockland, NY; and Douglas, CO.

3) What the "least white" (as in highest percentage of minorities) county in America is.

Not sure, but Shannon, SD is under 5% white.

4) What county has the lowest number of minority groups residing there.

No idea.  I bet that would depend on whether you counted non-white Hispanics or otherwise.

[Smash255]

1) What the poorest county in America is.

Arguable, but Buffalo and Shannon counties in South Dakota are probably the best option.  Extraordinary poverty rates, extraordinarily low incomes, extraordinarily high unemployment.  Lots of homes without even plumbing.

2) What the richest county in America is. (Orange?)

Much more arguable.  Options include Marin, CA; Rockland, NY; and Douglas, CO.

Would also add Fairfax & Louden VA to that list and I would say Nassau County, NY instead of Rockland Co.

[Alcon]

1) What the poorest county in America is.

Arguable, but Buffalo and Shannon counties in South Dakota are probably the best option.  Extraordinary poverty rates, extraordinarily low incomes, extraordinarily high unemployment.  Lots of homes without even plumbing.

2) What the richest county in America is. (Orange?)

Much more arguable.  Options include Marin, CA; Rockland, NY; and Douglas, CO.

Would also add Fairfax & Louden VA to that list and I would say Nassau County, NY instead of Rockland Co.

I'm basing this on Census figures.

[Smash255]

1) What the poorest county in America is.

Arguable, but Buffalo and Shannon counties in South Dakota are probably the best option.  Extraordinary poverty rates, extraordinarily low incomes, extraordinarily high unemployment.  Lots of homes without even plumbing.

2) What the richest county in America is. (Orange?)

Much more arguable.  Options include Marin, CA; Rockland, NY; and Douglas, CO.

Would also add Fairfax & Louden VA to that list and I would say Nassau County, NY instead of Rockland Co.

I'm basing this on Census figures.

hmmm I just took a look at it.  Per Capita Income and Household Median income, Nassau is higher than Rockland. Personal per Capita Income, Rockland is a bit higher than Nassau.  Can't figure out why personal per capita income is higher in Rockland, while Per capita income is higher in Nassau ( I understand the differences regarding bewteen per capita income & household income)