NONMETROPOLITAN RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION REVISITED

Nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) residential segregation in 1990 and change in the preceding decade have received insufficient attention. A set of empirical hypotheses are derived and assessed using nonmetro and metr opolitan (metro) counties in Texas. Places in nonmetro counties were m ore segregated than places in metro counties in 1990 as in 1980 Substa ntial declines in segregation occurred in both nonmetro and metro plac es but were largest in growing places in nonmetro counties. An analysi s controlling for other determinants of segregation supports the premi se that population change was a major determinant of 1980-1990 change in segregation. Implications for nonmetro areas in the 1990s are discu ssed.