Retirement destination counties are those where the number of residents age 60 and older grew by 15% or more between the 2000 and 2010 censuses due to net migration.

Persistent poverty counties are those where 20% or more of county residents were poor, measured by the 1980, 1990, and 2000 censuses, and the 2007-11 American Community Survey.

Farming dependent counties are those where 25% or more of the county’s average annual labor and proprietors’ earning were derived from farming, or 16% or more of jobs were in farming, as measured by 2010-12 Bureau of Economic Analysis, Local Area Personal Income and Employment data.

Persistent child poverty counties are those where 20% or more of county related children under 18 were poor, measured in the 1980, 1990, 2000 censuses, and the 2007-11 American Community Survey.