Rural Development and the Quality of Life in Harlan, Perry, Whitley, and Wolfe Counties: Summaries of Data from Surveys of Households in 1961 and 1973--Harlan County Databook, RS-35.

As part of a larger study prepared to provide local leaders with information on socioeconomic characteristics and household attitudes in four Kentucky counties, this databook on Harlan County is compiled from 1961 (open country area) and 1973 (nonopen country area and open country area) surveys. The sampling procedure involved a random selection of small-area sample segments and then a random selection of households to be interviewed. Interpretive summaries are provided for the following survey components: (1) Residential Characteristics; (2) Household Characteristics; (3) Occupational Characteristics; (4) Level of Living; (5) Income Characteristics; (6) Social Participation; (7) Opinion of Change in Quality of Life in County, 1973; (8) Opinion of Change in Quality of Life in Own Family, 1973; and (9) Opinions of Change in Quality of Life in the U. S., 1973. Survey results indicated Harlan County differed from the other counties in the percentage who felt that change had occurred in a particular area. Compared to responses from other counties, principal differences in opinions occurred among Harlan open country residents with respect to land use and agriculture, medical care, job opportunities, and opportunities for the young and old. The consensus was that conditions had worsened in every case except for medical care. (JC)