(Washington) – Howell County has experienced a brain gain in the last 40 years, joining the rest of the country in what has been a massive increase in the number of adults who have earned college degrees.
The Center for Rural Strategies, a a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that publishes the Daily Yonder, reports that in 1970, 5.2 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Howell County. By 2010, 14.1 percent of adults here had completed college, an increase of 8.9%.
However all over the southeastern portion of Missouri and Northern Arkansas there have been rises in the number of people who have completed college.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
In 1970, 3.1 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Douglas County. By 2010, 10.2 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 7.1%
TEXAS COUNTY
In 1970, 4.9 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Texas County. By 2010, 11.8 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 6.9%
OREGON COUNTY
In 1970, 3.9 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Oregon County. By 2010, 10.2 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 6.3%
WRIGHT COUNTY
In 1970, 3.8 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Wright County. By 2010, 11.3 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 7.5%.
SHANNON COUNTY
In 1970 3.7 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Shannon County. By 2010, 13.7 percent of adults had completed college, a 10% increase.
OZARK COUNTY
In 1970, 2.3 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Ozark County. By 2010, 11.1 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 8.8%
BAXTER COUNTY
In 1970, 5.7 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Baxter County. By 2010, 14.5 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 8.8%
MARION COUNTY
Marion County, Arkansas saw the largest percentage increase in the region. In 1970, 2.7 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Marion County. By 2010, 14.8 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 12.1%.
FULTON COUNTY
In 1970, 3.6 percent of those over 25 years of age had college degrees in Fulton County. By 2010, 14.8 percent of adults had completed college, an increase of 11.2%
The number of adults in the United States with college degrees has nearly tripled since 1970, when only 10.7 percent of adults had graduated from college. But the percentage of adults with degrees in counties with small cities, such as Howell County, while increasing, has generally fallen behind the proportion of college-educated residents in urban counties.