Rural America Closes Shop
This development is more significant for its real estate implications than for its impact on employment.
The 84 Lumber chain said it will close 67 stores in 19 states, including 13 in Ohio.The continued migration of people from rural America to already overcrowded cities provided support for unprecedented housing booms in urban and suburban areas. But apparently, few pockets of sheep remain.
The company said it's shutting down stores in slow-growing and rural markets and will focus on faster-growing areas in hopes of boosting sales.
Company officials say about 600 employees will be affected by the store closings. About two-thirds are expected to accept jobs at other stores.
posted by qrswave @ Tuesday, April 04, 2006
5 Comments:
QRS,
You do have to admit that, as a NYC resident, the urban centers do offer amenities that the rural areas simply cannot offer.
NYC may be crowded, but it also has more museums than any other city in America. It offers Broadway shows, restaurants featuring every type of cuisine you would want, multiculturalism, great educational opportunities, and a thriving nightlife.
What do the rural areas offer? Well, I guess they are great if you like the great outdoors, but as someone who lived in a rural area for 3 1/2 years, I can say the great outdoors gets old pretty fast. I was dying inside after a while, and needed to be in a city that never sleeps.
It's not just about money. The cost of living is far cheaper in rural areas, so if I cared about money over my own happiness, I would move to the heartland.
I have visited the endless chainmalls that constitute the heartland. I have seen rows of churches and monotony. No thanks!
Of course, that said, it is frightening to see the death of the family farm. I don't knock those who live in the heartland - I just know it's not something I am cut out for.
You're missing the point. You cannot live where there are no job opportunities.
You assume that most or many people move from rural areas so that they can have access to Broadway musicals, when in reality, many people move because they cannot find work and family farming is not viable.
Conversely, many people do not leave urban America - not because they don't want to, but because they cannot. There are no jobs in rural America to support communities. Industry and commerce requires money.
QRS,
I guess what I am saying is that I believe both factors are at play: the attractiveness of the cities, irrespective of the availability of jobs, is always a factor as to why people choose to move to the cities. That said, of course the dearth of jobs in the heartland is a real problem. Just look at the "rust belt." They don't call it that for nothing.
To second other comments, look at Europe:
- East Germany gets depopulated fast.
- Spain: full of deserted villages. Barcelona and Madrid are growing fast, just like the coastal areas.
- South of UK: old villages only survive by the influx from 'people with money' from the greater London area.
- North of France: quite atrophious. The south only survives because of high end tourism (second homes).
And then I'm forgetting the rest of the world. This trend is visible everywhere. It is all about better jobs (and money).
Smaller communities though can make the choice to keep out the corporate terrorits, but many are too stupid or too corrupt (or a combination of both). For example, Boulder, CO has a lot of local businesses, because they have banned Walmarts and I tend to try to keep the corporate terrorists out. The outdoor mall their is almost all local businesses.
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