This study, broadly speaking, explores economic distress, challenge, progress and opportunity in North Carolina. It employs decennial U.S. Census data; American Community Survey estimates; state-captured economic, health and educational measures; urban and rural demographic and wealth studies; and a variety of other reports and resources to draw its portraits and preliminary conclusions. It explores changes, particularly over the last three decades, in growth and demography, education, poverty, employment, housing and community development.
