Welcome
The NewsHour has launched Patchwork Nation, a reporting project that aims to explore what is happening in the United States by examining different kinds of communities over time. The effort divides America's 3,141 counties into 12 community types based on certain demographic characteristics, such as income level, racial composition, employment and religion.
WHRO, in association with the Hampton Roads Partnership's regional blog SmartRegion.org, has joined the project to spotlight Hampton Roads, VA as a “Military Bastion.”
The HRP SmartRegion.org blog provides bloggers an opportunity to represent Hampton Roads to a global audience and to share what they are seeing, hearing and reading about the issues that impact their lives and the lives of those around them.
Visit the national Patchwork Nation website to find out more about your county of interest - or use the county finder in the right-hand column of this page.
Related Local Programming from WHRO
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| Midtown Tunnel Vision Aired 5 February 2010 It is the busiest two-way roadway, east of the Mississippi. There is now a call to coalesce around a proposed expansion of the Midtown Tunnel connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth. Watch Now |
Midtown Tunnel Aired 7 January 2010 The expansion of the Midtown Tunnel has been identified by Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer as the road project that should be the top priority in Hampton Roads. Listen Now |
The Best of Another View Aired 31 December 2009 This year we've enjoyed exploring topics that impact Hampton Roads' vibrant African-American community, and featuring the positive stories that made a difference. Watch Now |
| ------------------------------------------------ The Mayors of Norfolk & Virginia Beach Aired 29 January 2010 They are the leaders of not only two of Hampton Roads cities, but the two largest cities in Virginia. We bring Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms together for a conversation about the decisions that affect all of us in the region. Watch Now |
------------------------------------------------ Holiday Giving Aired 17 December 2009 Today we'll talk about holiday giving with Angelica Light, the President And CEO of the Norfolk Foundation (which will soon merge with The Virginia Beach Foundation to form the Hampton Roads Community Foundation). Listen Now |
------------------------------------------------ Grateful - American Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia Aired 17 December 2009 The story of Mary and Sherman Lee, who literally found themselves and their daughters with only the clothes on their backs after their home caught fire and was destroyed. Watch Now |
| ------------------------------------------------ Vision Hampton Roads Aired 22 January 2010 We take a look at a roadmap that's taking shape to diversify and strengthen the region's economy. Its goal: Hampton Roads will be recognized as a region for centers of excellence. Watch Now |
------------------------------------------------ Downtown Norfolk Aired 9 December 2009 Developers have purchased the Union Mission in Downtown Norfolk and plan to renovate the historic building into affordable rental units. This news comes as the Downtown Norfolk Council works to bring more retail stores to Granby Street, light rail construction moves ahead and people continue to wonder 'What is going to happen with Waterside?'. Listen Now |
------------------------------------------------ Grateful - For Kids Aired 10 December 2009 Another View brings you inspirational stories of people of our community who are grateful for organizations that reached out and helped when things seemed helpless and hopeless. Watch Now |
| ------------------------------------------------ More What Matters Programming |
------------------------------------------------ More HearSay Programming |
------------------------------------------------ More Another View Programming |
Other Resources
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Patchwork Nation resources from the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer |
Patchwork Nation resources from The Christian Science Monitor |
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 View economic resources from PBS. |
Connect with Patchwork Nation and SmartRegion.org
SmartRegion.org on Facebook |
How Hampton Roads Fits Into Patchwork Nation
Hampton
Norfolk
Poquoson
Portsmouth
Virginia Beach
Williamsburg
Characteristics of Military Bastions:
► Areas with high employment in the military or related
to the presence of the military
► Home to a large veteran population
► Above average number of evangelical Christians
► Likely Republican voters, though Democratic
President Obama gained ground in 2008
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Characteristics of Boom Towns:
► Fast-growing, changing and diversifying
► Once-thriving economies that are now falling on
hard times
► Home to relatively affluent communities
► Experiencing growth of minority populations
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Characteristics of Evangelical Epicenters:
► Communities with a high proportion of evangelical
Christians
► Found mostly in small towns and suburbs
► Slightly older than the U.S. average
► Loyal Republican voters
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Franklin
Southampton County
Surry County
York County
Characteristics of Minority Central:
► Located primarily in the South
► Home to large pockets of black residents but a
below average percentage of Hispanics and
Asians
► Counties with median household incomes below
national median though there is a large disparity in
income between black and white households
► Racial disparity mirrored in voting trends as well with
blacks voting Democratic and whites supporting
Republicans
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Gloucester County
Isle of Wight County
Suffolk
Characteristics of Monied Burbs:
► Wealthier with a median household income of
$15,000 above the national county average
► Highly educated
► Less diverse than America as a whole
► Full of swing voters that voted Democratic in the
2008 presidential election
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