The latest Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll gives a good snapshot of the problems faced with trying to keep Iowa’s small towns viable. The annual poll by Iowa State University found 54-percent of Iowa farmers feel the community they live in is headed in the right direction. I-S-U Sociologist Paul Lasley says those polled felt small towns were the best place for their families.
He says a majority also said small towns were friendly, and featured good schools. Lasley says though, the respondents indicated a desire for some of the amenities of larger cities. The number of job opportunities available scored the lowest in the survey. He says the quality of shopping facilities also didn’t fare well.
Lasley says nearly half of those polled said the shopping facilities in their towns were poor or fair. Lasley says he was surprised by the low marks given another category in the poll.
He says he was surprised to find that only seven percent said the cultural activities in their hometown were excellent. Lasley says the poll shows a need to improve all aspects of rural life.
Over two thousand people responded to the 2001 poll.
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