In the last 100 years, most of the population growth in North Carolina has concentrated around metropolitan cities and their suburbs.
Yet, North Carolina is different from other States that it has remained a more rural State even in the 21st Century. It has the highest rural population in the country, next only to Texas.
However, these small rural towns and villages have seen no growth in recent years and are mostly stagnant. This poses a number of challenges including:
1. An aging population as younger people move out.
2. A slow and stagnant economy forces people to move out, which keeps on damaging the local economy.
3. Less number of jobs and opportunities can push many young people towards crime and other social ills.
