The Geography of US Poverty: Analyzing Spatial Shifts Since 1960

Poverty in the United States is not static; its geographic footprint has transformed dramatically over the past several decades. To address economic insecurity today, urban planners, researchers, and policymakers must understand where poverty is concentrated and why these patterns have shifted. This course guides you through the historical evolution of US poverty geography since 1960, giving you the analytical framework to interpret modern spatial socioeconomic trends. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts of spatial inequality, poverty thresholds, and demographic shifts. - Analyze the transition of economic distress from inner cities to suburban and rural landscapes. - Evaluate the impact of federal housing policies, deindustrialization, and regional migration patterns. - Interpret modern spatial data sources, including the American Community Survey and geographic indicators. - Examine modern challenges such as the suburbanization of poverty and spatial mismatch in employment. - Apply geographic analysis frameworks to propose informed policy solutions for local communities. You will begin by mastering key definitions of poverty and spatial analysis before tracing historical shifts decade-by-decade. Through written case studies and analytical exercises, you will explore how economic changes reshape regional landscapes. This course is designed for beginners interested in urban planning, sociology, public policy, or economics, with no prior experience in spatial data required. Start reading today to build a deep, spatial understanding of economic opportunity in America.