THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RURAL-FARM AGE STRUCTURE AND DISTANCE FROM A METROPOLITAN AREA.

The relationship between the age structure of the rural-farm population of the United States by regions and distance from the nearest Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) is investigated. Hypotheses are generated on the basis of the diminishing effect a metropolitan area has upon its hinterland population as distance increases. The findings indicate a direct relationship between proportions of rural-farm youth and distance (operationalized in terms of 50-mile bands) from the nearest SMSA; proportions of rural-farm aged show an inverse relationship with distance. It was also found that those in the younger portion of the economically active segment of the farm age structure exhibited little or no variation with distance. Two factors are proposed that may contribute an additional explanation of the findings: these are size and economic function of urban place and occupational composition of the rural-farm population within distance bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]