This report is the third in a series on demographic, economic, health, and educational information from Tyrrell County as compared with other North Carolina counties.

Data are from the 2019 County Map Book, published by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

The first report focused on educational attainment, high school graduation rates, local current expense appropriation per student, average teacher salary supplement, number of classroom teachers, and program enhancement teachers.

The second report gave data on public school facility needs, public school building capital fund [lottery] distribution, low-wealth supplemental funding, students enrolled in charter schools, and pre-kindergarten enrollment.

This report deals with economic conditions:

CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY:

The poverty threshold for a family of four is $25,750 annual income, and 35% of Tyrrell households are at or below that figure. Two other counties have the same percentage — Alleghany and Columbus. Twelve counties are in worse shape, with Greene and Robeson topping the list at 44%. Counties having the fewest children under 18 in poverty are Camden and Orange with 11% each.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE:

The percentages in this indicator were estimated based on a county’s number of citizens unemployed compared to the number of citizens employed in May 2019. Tyrrell and Halifax were at 5.8%, with Robeson and Washington just below at 5.7% and Vance above at 5.9% and Warren at 6.0%. Highest unemployment was in Hyde at 6.8% and Scotland at 6.6%. Lowest unemployment was in Buncombe at 3.1% and Davie at 3.5%.

FOOD INSECURITY RATES:

Food insecurity refers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members, and to limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Tyrrell, Jones and Nash were at 24% each, with Guilford and Caswell just below at 23% each and Columbus, Wayne, Onslow and Pasquotank at 25%. Highest rates were 33% in Edgecombe and Scotland, with the lowest, 13%, in Henderson and Union counties. These were 2016 data.

UNINSURED PERSONS:

The percentage of citizens who are under age 65 and did not have health insurance in 2019 was an average of 16.5% for all 100 North Carolina counties, up from 14% in 2018. Number 93 among the counties was Tyrrell at 21%, the same as Graham, Hoke and Jackson. Highest was Duplin at 25%, with Robeson and Sampson just behind at 24% each. Lowest uninsured county was Wake at 11%, with Camden, Cabarrus, Onslow and Orange at 12% each.