Census finds increase in childhood poverty

The poverty rate for school age children increased significantly in about one in five U.S. counties between 2007 and 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday. While child poverty was up in 653 counties, it dropped in only eight. Median household income declined significantly in 735 counties and increased in only 78. Nearly one in five or 19.8 percent of school children were living in poverty in 2010, the Census said. The childhood poverty rate was above this percentage in about one-third, or 1,011 counties, and below in 851. In 48 counties across the country, more than 30 percent of children were living in poverty. The census compiles data on childhood poverty annually. Demographers chose 2007 for comparison with 2010 because that was before the recession began.