These rural counties showed a significant decline in life expectancy for men and women from 1983 to 1999, based on a report by researchers at Harvard University:
| State
|
County
|
County
Seat
|
Population in 2000
|
Life Expectancy in 1983
|
Life Expectancy in 1999
|
| AL
|
Marion
|
Hamilton
|
31,214
|
79.72
|
77.28
|
| AR
|
Ashley
|
Hamburg
|
24,209
|
77.32
|
73.47
|
| AR
|
Fulton
|
Salem
|
11,642
|
80.97
|
77.42
|
| AR
|
Greene
|
Paragould
|
37,331
|
78.49
|
76.88
|
| AR
|
Izard
|
Melbourne
|
13,249
|
80.97
|
77.42
|
| FL
|
Union
|
Lake Butler
|
13,442
|
77.06
|
74.90
|
| LA
|
Caldwell
|
Columbia
|
10,560
|
77.68
|
76.36
|
| LA
|
Richland
|
Rayville
|
20,981
|
77.68
|
76.36
|
| MS
|
Lafayette
|
Oxford
|
38,744
|
79.67
|
77.38
|
| MS
|
Sunflower
|
Indianola
|
34,369
|
76.70
|
73.09
|
| MO
|
Iron
|
Ironton
|
10,697
|
78.99
|
75.74
|
| MO
|
Madison
|
Fredericktown
|
11,800
|
78.99
|
75.74
|
| NC
|
Martin
|
Williamston
|
25,593
|
76.51
|
73.72
|
| OK
|
Pontotoc
|
Ada
|
35,143
|
78.92
|
75.26
|
| TN
|
Bledsoe
|
Pikeville
|
12,367
|
79.28
|
76.57
|
| TN
|
Clay
|
Celina
|
7,976
|
79.19
|
76.59
|
| TN
|
Jackson
|
Gainesboro
|
10,984
|
79.19
|
76.59
|
| TN
|
Mcnairy
|
Selmer
|
24,653
|
79.38
|
76.12
|
| TN
|
Pickett
|
Byrdstown
|
4,945
|
79.19
|
76.59
|
| TN
|
Van Buren
|
Spencer
|
5,508
|
79.28
|
76.57
|
| TN
|
White
|
Sparta
|
23,102
|
79.28
|
76.57
|
| TX
|
Anderson
|
Palestine
|
55,109
|
77.82
|
76.20
|
| TX
|
Houston
|
Crockett
|
23,185
|
78.53
|
75.35
|
| TX
|
Walker
|
Huntsville
|
61,758
|
80.17
|
78.62
|
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