SOCIAL CAPITAL INDICATORS
IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA


by Alan W. Barton, Ph.D.

From the 2007 Delta Rural Poll
Conducted January 2007
 

 

Delta Residents’ Trust in People and Institutions
In Their Community by Respondents’ Race

(Percent*)

I can trust...

All
Respondents

Race

Black

White

...people at my church

80.2

73.8

92.1

...my neighbors

75.5

69.0

87.4

...people of other races

67.6

59.3

81.5

...the people I work with

64.5

56.3

79.3

...local business people

59.0

48.7

76.5

...local law enforcement

49.2

43.5

58.9

...local newspapers

46.3

44.9

49.4

...local politicians

32.1

33.3

30.6

*Percent indicates those who agree or strongly agree

                                                   
 

Delta Residents’ Trust in People and Institutions in Their Community
by Respondents’ 2006 Total Household Income

(Percent*)

I can trust...

All
Respondents

2006 Household Income

More Than
$60,000

$30,000 to
$60,000

Less Than
$30,000

...people at my church

80.2

91.4

80.9

77.1

...my neighbors

75.5

87.4

75.7

73.5

...people of other races

67.6

73.2

74.7

64.3

...the people I work with

64.5

76.0

68.1

62.0

...local business people

59.0

60.3

60.8

57.8

...local law enforcement

49.2

52.0

39.5

50.8

...local newspapers

46.3

38.7

37.1

51.0

...local politicians

32.1

15.1

27.6

35.8

*Percent indicates those who agree or strongly agree


 

Delta Residents’ Trust in People and Institutions in Their Community
by Respondents’ Gender

(Percent*)

I can trust...

All
Respondents

Gender

Male

Female

...people at my church

80.2

79.7

80.5

...my neighbors

75.5

76.8

74.5

...people of other races

67.6

66.8

68.1

...the people I work with

64.5

69.7

59.6

...local business people

59.0

58.4

59.5

...local law enforcement

49.2

50.0

48.3

...local newspapers

46.3

42.7

49.2

...local politicians

32.1

28.9

34.8

*Percent indicates those who agree or strongly agree

 

 

Delta Residents’ Trust in People and Institutions in Their Community
by Respondents’ Educational Achievement

(Percent*)

I can trust...

All
Respondents

Highest Education Completed

Less Than
High School

High School
Diploma

College
Degree

Grad/Prof
Degree

...people at my church

80.2

77.8

81.0

83.9

80.8

...my neighbors

75.5

73.6

73.5

81.6

84.0

...people of other races

67.6

68.9

63.7

77.6

70.0

...the people I work with

64.5

60.7

60.4

76.2

77.9

...local business people

59.0

59.7

55.4

68.7

64.6

...local law enforcement

49.2

51.9

46.9

50.0

53.8

...local newspapers

46.3

52.0

45.6

43.2

42.0

...local politicians

32.1

36.5

28.9

32.7

36.7

*Percent indicates those who agree or strongly agree  

    

 

Delta Residents’ Trust in People and Institutions in Their Community
by Respondents’ County of Residence

(Percent*)

I can trust...

All
Respondents

County of Residence

North

Delta

Coahoma

Bolivar

Sunflower

Leflore

Washington

South

Delta

...people at my church

80.2

79.4

83.9

80.0

80.5

77.8

80.9

79.5

...my neighbors

75.5

79.5

70.0

78.9

77.4

73.1

75.3

71.2

...people of other races

67.6

71.4

70.0

61.9

73.3

67.4

68.2

57.7

...the people I work with

64.5

63.0

68.0

62.2

66.7

64.8

63.8

66.2

...local business people

59.0

62.2

50.9

69.5

59.7

52.8

58.4

56.2

...local law enforcement

49.2

53.1

47.2

47.7

46.6

56.3

43.2

57.7

...local newspapers

46.3

60.5

39.8

52.4

48.0

38.7

42.7

42.6

...local politicians

32.1

31.3

35.5

39.1

27.1

33.6

31.2

23.2

*Percent indicates those who agree or strongly agree
 North Delta Counties:  Tunica, Quitman, Tallahatchie
 South Delta Counties:  Humphreys, Sharkey, Issaquena
 

 


Notes:


Data for the 2007 Delta Rural Poll were collected in January, 2007, with 1,005 respondents.

the Delta Rural Poll surveyed residents of eleven counties in northwestern Mississippi:  Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tunica and Washington.  Surveys were conducted by telephone and respondents were selected using random digit dialing techniques.

Responses were weighted using the 2000 U.S. Census as a baseline, to account for skewed gender and race characteristics.