Most Rural Nebraskans are Positive About Their Communities, Polls Shows

Jordan Rasmussen - Extension Educator - Rural Prosperity Nebraska Author

01/28/2025 Added

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The latest results from the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll show that, overall, rural Nebraskans are positive about their communities.

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[00:00:06.460]Most rural Nebraskans are positive about their communities, poll shows
[00:00:11.000]The latest results from the 2024 Nebraska Rural Poll show that, overall,
[00:00:14.760]rural Nebraskans are positive about their communities.
[00:00:18.600]Respondents rate their communities as friendly, trusting and supportive,
[00:00:22.280]and say it would be difficult to leave.
[00:00:24.600]Most also have a positive attachment to their community,
[00:00:27.080]saying they have a good bond with others
[00:00:28.660]and feel a sense of connection and belonging.
[00:00:31.280]Having an attachment to one’s community is related to
[00:00:34.180]community size, said Becky Vogt, Rural Poll manager.
[00:00:37.040]Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely to agree that
[00:00:40.800]they feel like a member of their community, that they feel connected
[00:00:44.360]and have a good bond with others, according to the poll.
[00:00:47.200]Fifty-nine percent of respondents living in or near communities
[00:00:50.200]with populations under 500 agree that they feel connected to their community,
[00:00:54.640]compared to 45% of people living in or near
[00:00:57.200]communities with populations over 10,000.
[00:01:01.720]Rural Nebraskans surveyed are positive about recent changes
[00:01:04.460]in their communities but are more negative about the future.
[00:01:07.320]This year, more believe their community has changed
[00:01:10.540]for the better than has changed for the worse.
[00:01:12.780]However, slightly more people believe their community will be a worse place
[00:01:16.820]to live 10 years from now than a better place.
[00:01:20.240]Most rural Nebraskans surveyed see their communities
[00:01:23.000]as capable of defining their future.
[00:01:24.820]Fifty-eight percent disagree or strongly disagree that their
[00:01:27.820]community is powerless to control its own future.
[00:01:31.240]This level of disagreement was higher
[00:01:33.120]for those living in or near larger communities.
[00:01:36.340]“These data show an interesting tension between community size
[00:01:39.460]and feeling connected and powerless,” said L.J. McElravy,
[00:01:42.180]associate professor of leadership at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
[00:01:46.520]“People from smaller communities feel more connected but
[00:01:48.800]also feel more powerless to control their future.”
[00:01:52.680]Most rural Nebraskans surveyed believe their communities should invest
[00:01:56.180]somewhat more or much more in the following areas over the next several years:
[00:02:00.020]local and regional job opportunities, K-12 education,
[00:02:03.620]entertainment and cultural events.
[00:02:07.060]Many also support increased investment
[00:02:08.940]in the area’s natural resources and medical services.
[00:02:12.700]“These results highlight the strong sense of belonging and connectedness
[00:02:16.500]many rural Nebraskans feel toward their communities,
[00:02:19.200]even as they express concerns about the future,” said
[00:02:22.000]Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, a Nebraska Extension specialist.
[00:02:25.280]“Understanding this balance between optimism and apprehension is
[00:02:28.520]vital for fostering community resilience and guiding investments in education,
[00:02:32.540]jobs and cultural opportunities that will sustain rural Nebraska for years to come.”
[00:02:38.060]The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans’
[00:02:41.160]perceptions about policy and quality of life.
[00:02:44.620]Questionnaires were mailed to more than 5,800 households in Nebraska
[00:02:48.360]in late spring and summer, with 1,010 households -
[00:02:51.960]representing 86 counties of the state’s 93 counties.
[00:02:55.940]The margin of error for the poll is plus-or-minus 3%.
[00:02:59.840]Rural Prosperity Nebraska conducts the poll
[00:03:02.160]with funding from Nebraska Extension.
[00:03:04.520]For more information, visit ruralpoll.unl.edu
[00:03:08.900]This article was authored by Becky Vogt.
[00:03:11.780]For Nebraska Extension, I am Rural Prosperity Nebraska
[00:03:14.740]Extension Educator, Jordan Rasmussen.

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Most Rural Nebraskans are Positive About Their Communities, Polls Shows

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