[atlspartan]

I grew up in Oceana County and my parents still live there. I can tell you why they are second in assitance, because there are absolutely no opportunities. There are very few of my classmates that have stayed in the area. Where are you going to work that you would be able to support a family? I also think that there is very little outlets for youth and therefore they do turn to drugs and teen pregnacy/single mothers is rampant. This is a new trend that wasn't an issue when I was growing up. Now I will admit that I was one of those kids that counted the days that I could leave the area and have never looked backed. I know many people that at 38 are still working where they were in high school! The only difference is that they have three kids to support on their minimum wage salary! I am sure there are many other rural counties that suffer the same fate. Oceana just inched them out in percentages. I will say I love the summers and always look forward to sitting on the beach in July! I'm just glad I don't have to live there.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by atlspartan

I grew up in Oceana County and my parents still live there. I can tell you why they are second in assitance, because there are absolutely no opportunities. There are very few of my classmates that have stayed in the area. Where are you going to work that you would be able to support a family? I also think that there is very little outlets for youth and therefore they do turn to drugs and teen pregnacy/single mothers is rampant. This is a new trend that wasn't an issue when I was growing up. Now I will admit that I was one of those kids that counted the days that I could leave the area and have never looked backed. I know many people that at 38 are still working where they were in high school! The only difference is that they have three kids to support on their minimum wage salary! I am sure there are many other rural counties that suffer the same fate. Oceana just inched them out in percentages. I will say I love the summers and always look forward to sitting on the beach in July! I'm just glad I don't have to live there.

Exactly. Of course they must be negative and lack marketable skills.

[IMOGAJAD]

Originally Posted by atlspartan

I grew up in Oceana County and my parents still live there. I can tell you why they are second in assitance, because there are absolutely no opportunities. There are very few of my classmates that have stayed in the area. Where are you going to work that you would be able to support a family? I also think that there is very little outlets for youth and therefore they do turn to drugs and teen pregnacy/single mothers is rampant. This is a new trend that wasn't an issue when I was growing up. Now I will admit that I was one of those kids that counted the days that I could leave the area and have never looked backed. I know many people that at 38 are still working where they were in high school! The only difference is that they have three kids to support on their minimum wage salary! I am sure there are many other rural counties that suffer the same fate. Oceana just inched them out in percentages. I will say I love the summers and always look forward to sitting on the beach in July! I'm just glad I don't have to live there.

You may or may not know me (or know of me). The last name is Williams and as far as I know we were the only black family (other than close relatives) in that county for years. Out of sheer desperation I left in 1981 and joined the Air Force. No one I know who's stayed there has prospered. I think possibly a body could have "made it" there in the mid-80's to mid -90's with an out of county job, but the cost of living just kept creeping up to the point I believe folks stopped breaking even after that. I find it depressing high school grads have no incentive to stay. I used to pick asparagus and process potatoes for a farmer just down the road (1969 -1977). He was the hardest working man I've ever known, but he threw in the towel back in the late 1970's and moved north. I had no idea the single motherhood epidemic had hit there of all places either. However, you are right about the beauty of the place. The sunsets were memorable, the fall colors mesmerizing, and peace of growing up in the country had it's advantages. Perhaps the best advice high school counselors could give seniors is "move on."

[actinic]

The beauty of the area masks some stark realities. Many towns in Oceana county (like many on the west shore) are tourist towns, kept alive by vacationers from Memorial to Labor Day. This is the local's bread & butter season, then it's back to quiet (and unemployment) til next summer. Fall & winter have some impact, but it's small compared to summer.

In the winter Pentwater basically closes shop with perhaps 40 - 50 percent of the town gone. Homes are expensive as are property taxes, ill affordable to the local folks. This doesn't stop summer residents from putting 'No Mistake in the Lake' signs in their yards protesting the proposed wind farm 4 miles offshore. After all, it would spoil their view during their 3 month stay.

As others have mentioned, there's very few opportunities, but then again this is true for nearly every rural area in the country. This also means the population is older. Younger people with ambitions move to urban areas while those with few aspirations stay, adopting the area culture of their parents who themselves were no doubt on drugs or married and/or pregnant in their teens with little more than a HS education.

While there's exceptions you can tell who's from the area from those that aren't. Out of towners are typically more educated, wealthier, and fit. Stop at Walmart or Meijers on 10 between Ludington and Scottville and notice the grossly obese people, many quite young, that go through the doors. Poor nutrition is rampant but it's more than that ... there's no sense of self respect, low esteem cultivated in a culture where no one's going anywhere and they know it. No dreams, no desires to get ahead.

Is it any wonder why public assistance is so rampant? No doubt Oceana trades spots for top honors with other counties sporting few business opportunities. Some parents welcome a smaller town to raise kids, others who aren't prepared are going to have a tougher time.

[IMOGAJAD]

That's pretty sad. Prior generations had farming to pass on to their kids, but as I alluded to in my earlier post, farming became a losing proposition for many. To their credit, there are still a few family run county farms. What these hard working folks do to get by during the off season is anybody's guess. The thought of teens having no more choices than I back in the 70's is depressing.

Thanks to all posting, but even with all the information given I wonder if county residents themselves are stymied by their condition, or simply oblivious to it.