The poorest counties in America

Here's is proof of what happens when you give up your Right to Bargain for a livable wage. These are just the top 15.

The number of Americans living in poverty has been on the rise since the Great Recession, as many households have seen their incomes drop and their debts mount in the past few years.

In total, more than 15% of the population lived in poverty in 2010, the highest percentage since 1993, according to the most recent data from the Census Bureau. To put that in perspective, that means more than 46 million people fell below the poverty line, defined as $22,314 for a family of four. If you factor in the income spent on expenses like medical costs, child care and mortgage payments, the number of Americans whose remaining income falls below the poverty line is closer to 50 million, or roughly 16% of the population.

""No. 15: Wilcox County, Ala.""

Poverty rate: 39.6%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 52.5%

Median household income: $21,611

""No. 14: Maverick County, Texas""

Poverty rate: 39.9%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 53.2%

Median household income: $27,710

""No. 13: Owsley County, Ky.""

Poverty rate: 40.1%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 54.4%

Median household income: $22,335

""No. 12: East Carroll Parish, La.""

Poverty rate: 40.3%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 53.7%

Median household income: $25,442

""No. 11: Lake County, Tenn.""

Poverty rate: 40.4%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 46.8%

Median household income: $27,142

""No. 10: Allendale County, S.C.""

Poverty rate: 40.4%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 47.1%

Median household income: $24,615

""No. 9: Corson County, S.D.""

Poverty rate: 40.9%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 54.1%

Median household income: $27,233

""No. 8: Holmes County, Miss.""

Poverty rate: 41.2%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 53.1%

Median household income: $22,536

""No. 7: Sioux County, N.D.""

Poverty rate: 41.3%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 51.8%

Median household income: $28,338

""No. 5 (tie): Washington County, Miss.""

Poverty rate: 42.2%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 57.1%

Median household income: $25,559

""No. 5 (tie): Humphreys County, Miss.""

Poverty rate: 42.2%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 61.1%

Median household income: $24,205

""No. 4: Issaquena County, Miss.""

Poverty rate: 43.3%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 60.1%

Median household income: $27,124

""No. 3: Shannon County, S.D.""

Poverty rate: 47.3%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 48.9%

Median household income: $27,307

""No. 2: Todd County, S.D.""

Poverty rate: 49.1%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 58.1%

Median household income: $26,393

""No. 1: Ziebach County, S.D.""

Poverty rate: 50.1%

Poverty rate of children under 18: 52.2%

Median household income: $25,669

Ziebach County has had the unfortunate distinction of being the county with the highest poverty rate since 2004, in part because, like Sioux County, it is made up primarily of Native Americans with limited job opportunities.

All of these are right to work states, except one, Oswago County Ky. The stats of this county make it pretty clear why they are on the list.

Total population 4,858,
% of registered voters who vote 50.5%,
Unemployment rate 8.2%,
% with less than a high school diploma or equiv. 50.8%
% with high school diploma or equivalent 28.0%,
Agriculture, mining, &other natural resources 0
,Manufacturing & construct. na,
Retail, wholesale,transportation, & utilities 81,
Finance, professional, &business services na,
Leisure, hospitality, &other services, na

The total population of the County is smaller that the city that I live.

http://cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A173E405-7F80-40C2-8995-2320ED5336D7/0/Owsley.pdf

http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm