Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Masters in Urban and Regional Planning

State of the Region Report: Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

October 11, 2011 Prepared by: Kelsey Fryling Tiffany Luu Leslie Tate

Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary& Introduction...2 2. Housing Section.3
Table 1. Percentage of Occupied Units and Percentage of Vacant Units .3 Table 2. Percentage Owner-Occupied and Renter Occupied........3 Table 3. Year Structure Built...4 Graph 1. Year Structure Built.4 Graph 2. Median House Value ...4 Graph 3. Median Gross Rent........5 Table 4. Monthly Costs for Owner-Occupied Units (Percentage by Mortgage Status).6

3. Demographic Characteristics..7
Table 1. Sex7 Graph 1. MSA Trend of Total Population..7 Table 2. Age....8 Table 3. Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over8 Table 4. Ethnicity..9 Graph 2. MSA Ethnicity Percentages 2010..10 Graph 3. Virginia Ethnicity Percentages 2010 10 Table 5. Relationship Status...10 Table 6. Marital Status11 Table 7. Households by Type..11

4. Economic and Employment Conditions13

Table 1. Table 2. Chart 1. Table 3. Table 4. Table 5. Table 6. Unemployment Rate, Age 16 and Over...13 Unemployment, Age 16 and Over, During Recession13 Unemployment Rate (MSA and Virginia Comparison)14 Industry Breakdown.15 Median Household Income16 Persons Below Poverty Level.16 Means of Transportation to Work16

5. Conclusion...18 6. Bibliography19

1. Executive Summary & Introduction Executive Summary: The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA and Virginia have experienced comparable relative
growth in development in recent years as can be seen in similar percentages for the structures built in 2005 or later.

The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA has a lower median house value and median gross rent
value than the comparison area of Virginia.

Individuals with and without a mortgage in the MSA have experienced increases in monthly costs from
the year 1990 to 2010. Virginia has a higher percentage of its home owners, with and without mortgages, paying higher monthly costs than the MSA in the year 2010.

Population in the MSA has seen an overall increase from 1990 to 2010 however population dropped
from 151,859 in 2000 to 140,200 in 2005. Virginia has a greater percentage of its population in the age bracket 30-54 when compared to the MSA, while the MSA has a larger percentage of its population in the 19-29 age range when compared to Virginia. percentage of non-Caucasians than the MSA. The majority of the population for both the MSA and the state of Virginia is Caucasian.

The MSA has experienced increases in diversity from 1990-2010. The state of Virginia has a larger The MSA has a higher percentage of nonfamily households than Virginia, as is expected in a college
town. The MSA has a higher unemployment rate than Virginia. The MSA has experienced increasing median household income from 1990-2010. However, the state of Virginias median household income is $20,000 more than the MSA. The MSA has experienced increasing percentages of those below the poverty level. The percentage of those below the poverty level for the MSA is twice that of Virginia.

Introduction:
The purpose of this regional report of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area is to provide a review of housing, demographic, and economic trends within the MSA and in comparison to the state of Virginia as a whole. This overview includes analysis of housing stock, home values, population change, educational attainment, marital status, and employment conditions. The data for analysis in this report was primarily acquired through the U.S. Census Bureau website. In order to show trends within the MSA, the housing, demographic, and economic characteristics have been examined for the years 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010. Data for the MSA and state of Virginia are compared for the year 2010 to illustrate some of the unique qualities of this particular region of Virginia.

2. Housing Section
This section will address several housing stock characteristics of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford metropolitan statistical area (MSA) including: Total housing stock Percentage of occupied and vacant units Percentage of owner-occupied and renter-occupied units Age of housing stock Median value of housing stock Median monthly rent associated with renter-occupied units Monthly housing costs associated with owner-occupied units

Table 1. Percentage of Occupied Units and Percentage of Vacant Units

MSA Trend 1990 2000 2005 2010 55,104 62,721 67,563 69,941 93.02% 93.18% 61.18% 89.30% 6.98% 6.82% 38.82% 10.70% Virginia 2010 3,368,674 88.80% 11.20%

Total Housing Units Percentage of Occupied Units Percentage of Vacant Units

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Summary File 1

Table 1 shows that total housing units have steadily increased in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA from 1990 to 2010. The trend for the percentage of occupied units and vacant units is relatively similar for the years 1990, 2000, and 2010; however, the year 2005 demonstrates a significant decrease in the percentage of occupied units with a consequent increase in the percentage of vacant units. The MSA is representative of the state of Virginia with regards to percentage of occupied and vacant units in the year 2010.

Table 2. Percentage Owner-Occupied and Renter Occupied

MSA Trend 1990 2000 2005 2010 51,258 58,443 57,871 62,446 62.38% 61.60% 61.18% 64.30% 37.62% 38.40% 38.82% 35.70% Virginia VA 2010 2,992,732 67.70% 32.30%

Total Occupied Units Percentage Owner-Occupied Percentage Renter-Occupied

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Summary File 1

Table 2 demonstrates that the majority of occupied housing units in the MSA and in the state of Virginia are owned as opposed to rented. The percentage of owner-occupied units in the MSA has experienced a minimal overall increase of 1.92%; however, this percentage showed small decreases from 1990 to 2000 and 2000 to
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2005. When comparing the percentage of owner-occupied and renter occupied units in 2010 for the MSA and the comparison area of Virginia, one can see that these values are similar with only a 3.4% difference. Graph 1. Year Structure Built Table 3. Year Structure Built
MSA 2010 Built 2005 or later Built 2000 to 2004 Built 1990 to 1999 Built 1980 to 1989 Built 1970 to 1979 Built 1960 to 1969 Built 1950 to 1959 Built 1940 to 1949 Built 1939 or earlier 7.5% 5.6% 15.9% 14.1% 20.2% 11.7% 9.0% 6.6% 6.6% VA 2010 6.5% 9.1% 16.0% 17.3% 16.7% 11.6% 9.7% 5.1% 8.0%
25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% Built Built Built Built Built Built Built Built Built 2005 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1939 or to to to to to to to or later 2004 1999 1989 1979 1969 1959 1949 earlier

MSA 2010

VA 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau- Summary File 3

Source: U.S. Census Bureau-Summary File

Table 3 shows that the majority of the housing stock for both the MSA and the state of Virginia was built between 1960 and 1999 as represented by the numbers shown in red. The total percentage of houses built within this time period for the MSA and the state of Virginia is 61.9% and 61.6% respectively. This chart also demonstrates similar percentages between the MSA (7.5%) and the comparison area of Virginia (6.5%) for the housing stock built in 2005 or later, demonstrating that these two areas have experienced comparable relative growth in development in recent years. Graph 1 is a visual representation of the information shown in Table 3.

Graph 2. Median House Value

$249,100 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $0 MSA MSA MSA MSA VA 1990* 2000* 2005 2010 2010
Source: U.S. Census Bureau- Summary File 1

$156,800 $116,400 $89,725 $58,475

Median House Value

*The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford region wasnt classified as an MSA during the years 1990 and 2000. Therefore, the median values used in the graph for those years are an average of the individual median house values for Montgomery County, Giles County, Radford City, and Pulaski County.

Graph 2 shows that median house value has risen steadily in the MSA from 1990 to 2010, experiencing an overall increase of $98,325. Graph 1. also shows that median house value for the year 2010 for the comparison area of Virginia is $92,300 higher than the median house value for the year 2010 for the MSA. It is important to note that Montgomery County is an outlier among the MSA with regards to median house value. For example, in the year 2000 the median house values for the individual counties included in the MSA was as follows: Montgomery County ($114,600), Giles County ($69,200), Pulaski County ($80,000), and Radford City ($95,100). These numbers demonstrate a wide range between the different counties that constitute the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA.

Graph 3. Median Gross Rent

$1,200.00 $1,000.00 $800.00 $600.00 $400.00 $200.00 $0.00 MSA MSA MSA MSA VA 1990* 2000* 2005 2010 2010 $346.50 $432.25 $579 Median Gross Rent $750 $1,109

Source: U.S. Census Bureau- Summary File 1

*The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford region wasnt classified as an MSA during the years 1990 and 2000. Therefore, the median gross rent values used in the graph for those years are an average of the individual median gross rent values for Montgomery County, Giles County, Radford City, and Pulaski County.

Graph 3 shows that median gross rent has risen steadily in the MSA from 1990 to 2010, experiencing an overall increase of $403.50. Graph 3 also shows that median gross rent for the year 2010 for the comparison area of Virginia is $359 higher than the median house value for the year 2010 for the MSA.

Table 4. Monthly Costs for Owner-Occupied Units (Percentage by Mortgage Status)

MSA Trend 1990 Housing units with a mortgage: Less than $300 $300 to $499 $500 to $699 $700 to $999 $1,000 to $1,499 $1,500 to $1,999 $2,000 or more Housing units without a mortgage: Less than $100 $100 to $199 $200 to $299 $300 to $399 $400 or more 13,865 9.19% 31.51% 27.56% 20.82% 8.40% 2.05% 0.48% 9,379 11.89% 66.02% 19.03% 2.19% 0.87% 2000 17,336 1.48% 12.47% 23.31% 30.80% 23.58% 6.20% 2.16% 10,199 4.03% 43.62% 39.01% 9.26% 4.08% 2005 21,495 2.30% 5.57% 15.85% 30.23% 31.99% 10.18% 3.87% 13,910 3.74% 33.90% 37.37% 16.82% 8.17% 2010 23,578 7.00% 2.90% 10.70% 24.20% 35.30% 13.90% 12.30% 16,589 3.00% 11.40% 23.30% 29.50% 35.40% Virginia 2010 1,458,444 0.30% 1.60% 3.80% 10.60% 23.30% 20.90% 39.50% 566,796 1.20% 8.40% 18.70% 20.30% 51.50%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau- Summary File 1

Table 4 shows the percentage of monthly costs according to different monetary ranges based on mortgage status for the MSA for the years 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010 as well as for the comparison area of Virginia for the year 2010. The two numbers in red in each column represent the highest percentage of people paying a given monthly cost for those with a mortgage and those without a mortgage. The trend in the MSA demonstrates an increase in monthly costs as the highest percentage of monthly costs with a mortgage moves from the $300 to $499 range in 1990 to the $1,000 to $1,499 range in 2010. The same is true for those without a mortgage as the highest percentage of monthly costs moves from the $100 to $199 range in 1990 to the $400 or more range in 2010. Table 4 also shows that the highest percentage of monthly costs in the state of Virginia for the year 2010 is $2,000 or more for those with a mortgage and $400 or more for those without a mortgage. Even though the MSA and Virginia both have the highest percentage of monthly costs without a mortgage at $400 or more, one can see that Virginia has a higher percentage of people paying at that level (51.5% for Virginia compared to 35.4% for the MSA).

3. Demographic Characteristics
The purpose of this portion of the report is to determine the demographic characteristics and trend of residents within the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes: Sex Age Educational Attainment Ethnicity Marital Status Household Type Table 1. Sex
1990 140,715 49.76% 50.24% MSA Trend 2000 2005 151,859 140,200 50.60% 50.49% 49.40% 49.51% 2010 161,768 49.63% 50.37% Virginia 2010 8,024,617 49.12% 50.88%

Total Population Percentage of Male Percentage of Female

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph 1. MSA Trend of Total Population

165,000 160,000 161,768

155,000
150,000 145,000 140,000 135,000 130,000 125,000 1990 2000 2005 2010 Total Population in Hundred Thousands Source: U.S. Census Bureau 140,715 140,200

151,859

Table 1 represents the total population of the MSA between 1990 and 2010 and Virginia in 2010. There was steady growth in the total population between 1990 and 2000 in the MSA from 140,715 to 151,859. However, Graph 1 indicates that there was a sharp decrease in the total population from 151,859 in 2000 to 140,200 in
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2005, which is less than the total population in 1990. In 2010, there was significant growth in the total population to a total of 161,768. Throughout the years, there has been a fairly even distribution between males and females within the MSA with only minor fluctuations. Similarly, the state of Virginia also had a nearly even ratio of males to females in 2010.

Table 2. Age
1990 22.52% 29.68% 29.52% 7.51% 10.76% MSA Trend 2000 2005 25.70% 21.47% 23.97% 24.83% 30.78% 31.11% 8.46% 10.44% 11.10% 12.15% 2010 24.55% 24.20% 28.18% 10.82% 12.25% Virginia 2010 26.10% 14.00% 35.60% 12.00% 12.20%

18 and Under 19-29 30-54 55-64 65 and Over

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 2 represents the age distribution in the MSA between the years of 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010 and the state of Virginia in 2010. The largest age group in 1990 was between the ages of 19 to 29; however, the largest age group in 2000, 2005 and 2010 was 30 to 54. The age group of 55-64 has consistently had the smallest percentage of individuals in an age bracket throughout the years of 1990 to 2010 in the MSA. For the age brackets of 18 and under and 65 and over, the MSA and the state of Virginia had similar percentages of these age groups in 2010. Conversely, the percentage of individuals in the 19 to 29 age bracket in the MSA in 2010 had almost twice the percentage of Virginia. The MSA and the state of Virginia in 2010 held the highest percentage for the 30 to 54 age bracket.

Table 3. Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over

MSA Trend 1990 9th to 12th Grade, No Diploma High School Graduate (includes equivalency) Some College, No Degree Associates Degree Bachelor's Degree Graduate Degree or Professional Degree
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Virginia 2010 Male 0.73% 13.97% 10.19% 2.80% 5.84% 7.60% Female 0.80% 12.12% 9.72% 5.09% 9.72% 6.79% 2010 Male 0.73% 12.22% 9.17% 2.83% 9.32% 7.35% Female 0.70% 13.22% 10.95% 3.92% 10.74% 6.82%

2000 1.25% 16.45% 3.56% 0.77% 1.41% 2.78%

2005 0.91% 16.84% 10.89% 4.19% 10.03% 9.91%

8.80% 14.18% 8.33% 3.26% 6.51% 5.93%

The MSA and Virginia contain a wide range of people who obtain different levels of education as indicated by Table 3. Throughout 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010, the MSA has experienced greater educational attainment at all levels of education. In the years of 2005 and 2010 in the MSA, more people were graduating high school and less people were dropping out of the 9th to 12th grade without a diploma. From 2005 to 2010, the MSA
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experienced a significant rise in the number of people who attained some college education with 10.89% to nearly 20%. Similarly, people with bachelors degrees more than doubled in 2010 in the MSA in comparison to 1990. Females in particular in 2010 in the MSA tended to receive higher education in associates degrees and bachelors degree. However, more men were likely to obtain a graduate degree or professional degree. In comparison to the state of Virginia in 2010, the MSA held similar percentages for individuals not completing high school without a diploma, individuals graduating high school, and individuals receiving some college but with no degree. Females were more likely in 2010 to receive an associates degree in the MSA than in Virginia. The total population of the MSA received more associates degrees than the state of Virginia. On the other hand, Virginia had 20.6% of the population receive bachelors degrees while the MSA only had 15.56%. Once again, Virginia had more females graduating with a bachelors degree than males in 2010. Another similarity the MSA and Virginia held in 2010 was the similar percentage of individuals who obtained graduate or professional degrees. Ultimately, most people in the MSA and in Virginia were most likely to not drop out of high school and graduate from high school, and females were more likely to obtain associates and bachelors degrees than males. Table 4. Ethnicity
MSA Trend Virginia 1990 2000 2005 2010 2010 93.11% 90.51% 90.63% 90.09% 68.86% 4.33% 4.28% 4.33% 4.32% 19.40% 0.09% 0.16% 0.08% 0.03% 0.40% 2.27% 0.20% 0.84% 2.45% 0.12% 1.23% 3.15% 0.28% 1.35% 3.69% 0.60% 2.39% 5.60% 3.20% 7.85%

White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander Some other race Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 4 depicts the ranges of ethnicities within the MSA throughout 1990 to 2010 and the state of Virginia in 2010. Within the MSA, whites hold the greatest percentage of the population with over 90% in 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010. In Virginia, on the other hand, whites held only 68.86% of the population in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of African Americans in the MSA throughout 1990 to 2010 has remained relatively constant hovering over 4%. In contrast, the state of Virginia held nearly 20% of African Americans in 2010. Both the MSA throughout 1990 to 2010 and the state of Virginia in 2010 had less than 0.50% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. The Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander have seen a slow increase in the MSA from 2.27% in 1990 to 3.69% in 2010. Similarly, there has been a steady rise in the number of Hispanics or Latinos in the MSA growing from 0.84% in 1990 to 2.39% in 2010. However, Hispanics and Latinos held nearly 8% of the population in the state of Virginia in 2010. Overall, the state of Virginia contains a wider range of ethnicities within its population in comparison to the MSA in 2010, but the MSA has shown steady increases in ethnicities of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander and Hispanic or Latino populations.

Graph 2. MSA Ethnicity Percentages 2010

4% 4%1% 2% 0% 0%

Graph 3. Virginia Ethnicity Percentages 2010

3% 5% 8%

19% 65% 90%

White
Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander Some other race Hispanic or Latino (of any race) Source: U.S. Census Bureau

White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander Some other race Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Graph 2 and Graph 3 show the disparate ranges of ethnicities between the MSA and Virginia in 2010. Whites clearly dominate the MSA in 2010, whereas other ethnicities dwarf in comparison. Virginia in 2010 has a greater blend of ethnicities, but, like the MSA, whites seem to dominate the state with over half the population.

Table 5. Relationship Status

MSA Trend 1990
Male Female Male

2000
Female Male

2005
Female Male

2010
Female

Virginia 2010
Male Female

Never Married 35.73% 28.57% 20.35% 15.88% 20.31% 14.45% 46.20% 37.90% 34.20% Separated Widowed
1.54% 1.48% 1.92% 9.09% 5.73% 0.77% 0.94% 3.53% 1.13% 5.03% 4.04% 0.19% 1.23% 3.27% 2.22% 4.85% 4.62% 1.30% 2.70% 8.20% 2.50% 9.10% 10.50% 2.30% 2.30% 8.50%

28% 2.90% 8.70% 11.40%

4.47% Divorced Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 5 characterizes the marital status between males and females between the years of 1990 to 2010 in the MSA and in 2010 for the state of Virginia. Males and females seemed to have a steady decrease of never being married from 1990 to 2005, but then this number soared to 46.20% of males never being married in 2010 within the MSA. In 2010, more males were likely to be never married than females in the MSA and in the state of Virginia. Table 5 also illustrates that the MSA and the state of Virginia in 2010 has more females being
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separated than males. Females were also more likely to become widowed in every year between 1990 and 2010 within the MSA and in the state of Virginia. The percentage of widowed women seems to far outweigh the percentage of men at each year of the MSA and in Virginia in 2010. This is especially true for the year 2010 where the percentage of female widows was 9.10% in comparison to male widows of 2.70% in the MSA, and female widows was 8.70% in comparison to male widows with 2.3% in Virginia. The divorce rate has also shown steady increases in the MSA throughout 1990 to 2010, with 10.50% of females and 8.20% of males accounting for divorces in 2010. The percentages in 2010 for the MSA nearly double the percentages in divorces for 1990, 2000, and 2005. Females in each year were also more likely to become divorced in the MSA, and the same can be said about the state of Virginia in 2010. Both the MSA and Virginia in 2010 held similar percentages of nearly 20% of the population resulting in divorces.

Table 6. Marital Status

1990 60.28% MSA Trend 2000 2005 47.57% 51.25% 2010 40.80% Virginia 2010 53.38%

Married

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Table 6 indicates that the MSA has generally seen a decline in the number of marriages from 1990 to 201, despite the increase in marriages from 2000 to 2005. In relation to Virginia in 2010, the MSA has about 13% fewer marriages.

Table 7. Households by Type

1990 Family Households: 3.32% 3.54% Married-couple family: with related children 24.23% Male Householder, no wife present 15.40% with related children 0.69% 0.00% Female Householder, no husband present with related children 2.01% 0.00% Nonfamily Households
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

MSA Trend 2000 2005 59.69% 55.69% 47.57% 79.69% 18.90% 32.33% 3.39% 2.01% 1.60% 1.65% 8.73% 9.30% 4.88% 16.70% 13.64% 29.29%

2010 58.80% 43% 13.90% 3.90% 1.90% 11.90% 5.90% 41.20%

Virginia 2010 67% 51% 20.60% 4.20% 2.00% 12.40% 7.00% 32.70%

Table 7 describes the households in the MSA throughout 1990 to 2010 and in the state of Virginia in 2010. Family households made up 58.50% in 2010 in the MSA while Virginia had 67% of family households. There were also more married-couple families in Virginia in 2010 than in the MSA. There was an increase in the number of married-couple families from 1990 with 3.54% to 79.69% in 2005, but this number decreases to 43% in 2010 for the MSA. Married-couple families in 2010 of the MSA had smaller percentage of related children in the household than in Virginia in 2010. Similar percentages can be seen in Table 7 for male householders with no wife present and female householders with no husband present in 2010 between the MSA and in Virginia.
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Nonfamily households have shown steady increases in the MSA reaching 41.20% in 2010, while Virginia held 32.70% of nonfamily households in 2010.

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4.

Economic and Employment Conditions

This section focuses on summarizing the past and current economic trends in the newly formed BlacksburgChristiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The information compiled includes: Unemployment rates Median household income Persons below poverty level Occupation Means of transportation to work

Table 1: Unemployment Rate, Age 16 and Over

MSA Trend 1990 6.18% 2000 5.54% 2005 6.01% 2010 8.57% Virginia 2010 7.70%

Percent Unemployment
Source: US Census Bureau

Table one displays the trend in the unemployment rate throughout the years in the targeted MSA along with the 2010 rate for Virginia. The unemployment rate is calculated as the total level of unemployment divided by the total labor force. The unemployment rate in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA went down slightly in 2000 from 1990, only to increase drastically up to a high of 8.57% in 2010. This increase in unemployment in the area is not surprising considering the economic recession currently taking place. The rate of unemployment in the MSA is about a percentage point higher than that of the state of Virginia in 2010. This indicates that the MSA is suffering a greater economic hardship from the recession than Virginia as a whole. Table 2: Unemployment, Age 16 and Over, During Recession
2005 4,321 6.00% 2006 4,918 6.53% MSA Trend 2007 2008 5,171 4,591 6.45% 5.70% 2009 8,507 10.70% 2010 6,828 8.57%

Total Unemployment Percent Unemployment

Source: US Census Bureau

Table two shows the trend of the unemployment rate in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA over the years from 2005 to 2010. This table was included because the recession began over this time period and it demonstrates how hard the MSA was impacted. The start of the recession is clearly marked by huge increase in unemployment between 2008 and 2009. The region recovers slightly in 2010, but the unemployment rate has not gone back down to what it was before the recession hit.

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Chart 1: Unemployment Rate (MSA and Virginia Comparison)

12.00% Unemployment Rate 10.00% 8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% 2005 2006 2007 Year
Source: US Census Bureau

MSA VA

2008

2009

2010

This line graph compares unemployment in the MSA and the state of Virginia from 2005 to 2010. This is a good visual display of how the region dealt with the economic crisis in comparison to the state as a whole. This seems to show that the region is simply not doing as well as the state is economically. Virginia has a lower unemployment rate throughout the time period and is more stable as well, showing less fluctuation. This may be because the region is dependent on a smaller amount of industries that may have been more affected than others.

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Table 3: Industry Breakdown

MSA 2005
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining Construction Manufacturing Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation and warehousing, and utilities Information Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services Educational services, and health care and social assistance Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services Other services, except public administration Public administration
Source: US Census Bureau

MSA 2010
0.6%

Virginia 2005
1.1%

Virginia 2010
1.1%

1.5%

4.3% 14.3% 2.4% 8.9% 3.7% 3.9% 4.7%

4.7% 12.6% 0.9% 10.7% 3.0% 1.8% 3.3%

8.3% 9.1% 2.6% 11.7% 4.3% 3.0% 6.9%

6.6% 7.7% 2.0% 10.8% 3.9% 2.2% 6.5%

6.9%

8.2%

12.5%

14.5%

31.6%

33.8%

18.8%

21.1%

8.4%

10.4%

7.5%

8.5%

5.5% 4.0%

5.2% 4.7%

5.3% 8.9%

5.2% 9.8%

This table gives a breakdown of jobs held in the different industries for the MSA and Virginia in 2010. People working in the MSA hold more jobs in manufacturing, educational services, health services, social services, food service, arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation than Virginia as a whole. Manufacturing is one of the industries hard hit by the recession (Bell, 2010). American companies have been shipping manufacturing jobs overseas for many years and the recession only sped up that process. Those holding manufacturing jobs in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA were at a much higher risk of losing their jobs than other workers. This may be where some of the blame lies for the higher unemployment rate in the MSA as compared to the state.

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Table 4: Median Household Income

1990* $22,470 MSA Trend 2000* 2005 $31,446 $33,187 2010 $40,127 Virginia 2010 $60,674 United States 2010 $50,046

In Dollars

Source: US Census Bureau

*The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford region wasnt classified as an MSA during the years 1990 and 2000. Therefore, the median household income values used in the table for those years are an average of the individual median household income values for Montgomery County, Giles County, Radford City, and Pulaski County.

This table displays the median household income for the MSA over the years and gives a comparison of the MSA in 2010 to the state of Virginia and the United States for that same year. Overall it appears that the median incomes of households in the region are slowly increasing about on par with inflation and therefore the area is not really increasing in wealth. The table also indicates that the MSA is somewhat poorer than both Virginia and the rest of the country. Virginias median household income is approximately $20,000 higher than the MSA median income and the United States median household income is about $10,000 higher than the MSA median income. This indicates that Virginia must have some wealthier regions that offset poorer regions such as the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA to have a median income above the national average. Most likely these would be the areas of northern and central Virginia which are known to be wealthier areas. Table 5: Persons Below Poverty Level
1990 17.76% MSA Trend 2000 2005 18.16% 22.30% 2010 22.20% Virginia 2010 11.10%

By Percentage
Source: US Census Bureau

Table five once again shows that the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA is a poor region. The poverty level in the MSA is twice as high as the states level of poverty. Poverty has also been increasing since 1990 in the MSA which is not a good sign for the region. Despite the increasing poverty, it does not look like the recession has yet drive too many more people into poverty as the percentage in poverty actually decreased by a tenth of a percent between 2005 and 2010 when the recession took place. Poverty is determined by the Census Bureau by looking at the amount of people in a family and their ages and using a specific formula. Table 6: Means of Transportation to Work
1990 46,244 2,660 965 3,457 MSA Trend 2000 2005 54,415 53,890 7,365 5,700 1,248 3,147 728 2,168 2010 56,373 7,742 1,327 2,245 MSA % Virginia % 2010 2010 78.82% 77.14% 10.82% 9.98% 1.90% 3.12% 4.40% 2.70%

Drove Alone Carpooled Public Transit Walked

Source: US Census Bureau

Transportation is an important aspect of the economy and it accounts for a lot of the energy use in the country today. With the growing climate crisis, there has been increased emphasis on public and mass transportation. Table six compares four main methods of transportation to work: driving alone, carpooling, public transport, and walking. Driving alone is the primary method of transportation in both the MSA and in Virginia. This is
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probably pretty standard throughout the United States as it is primarily an independent automobile driven culture. The largest difference between the MSA and Virginia exists within public transportation. This shows that the MSA could perhaps place more emphasis on improving its mass public transportation system.

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5. Conclusion
Overall the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA is a generally poorer region of the state. The economic section displays evidence for this conclusion in the higher unemployment rate, high level of poverty, and low median household income in the MSA as compared to Virginia. The housing section also backs up this conclusion in the form of low median house values and median gross rent in the MSA as compared to the state. Though the region performs lower than the state in several economic ways, it does share several similarities as well. These include similar percentages of industry breakdown, means of transportation to work, educational attainment, sex ratio, year structure built, percentage of occupied and vacant units as well as percentage of renter-occupied and owner occupied units. Some ways that the region differs from the state include marital status, ethnic composition, and age breakdown. These differences do not necessarily have a negative connotation associated with them, but simply make the region unique.

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6. Bibliography
Bell, A. (2010, February 11).Careers in crisis: three industries hit hardest by job losses . Retrieved from http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0210/Careers-in-Crisis-Three-IndustriesHit-Hardest-By-Job-Losses.aspx

Census Bureau Home Page. (n.d.). Census Bureau Home Page. Retrieved October 11, 2011, from http://www.census.gov/

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