INCREASING POVERTY IN TIMBER-DEPENDENT AREAS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON

During the 1980s (before the northern spotted owl was listed as an end angered species) the timber industry in the West went through an exten ded period of restructuring. At that time, inefficient mills were shut down, pay and benefits to workers were reduced, and work was contract ed out to improve competitiveness. Because the 1990 census occurred ju st prior to harvest reductions brought on by listing the northern spot ted owl as endangered, linking this census with the 1980 cenus capture s much of the effects of the transition in timber-dependent areas caus ed by restructuring. This research examines changes in timber-dependen t counties in western Washington between 1980 and 1990 compared with o ther nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties in the region, focusing particularly on changes in poverty. Several factors contribute to pov erty, including inadequate employment, low wage and salary incomes, an d changing family structures. Each factor is examined to see if differ ences point to a minor lag between timber-dependent and other areas or to a dramatic divergence prior to listing the northern spotted owl as endangered.