Social Capital
A Summary of Findings
Social capital
in the Sierra Nevada is generally strong. The quality of education is
generally high, demonstrated by high school seniors consistently outperforming
the California average on the SAT, the standard college entrance exam.
Residents’ commitment to community is exemplified through high voter participation
and vested interest in funding for the arts and in local cultural activities.
Other indicators
of social capital strength are as follows:
- The number
of people with health insurance is higher than in the state of California
- A steady
decrease in violent crimes throughout the region
- A higher
percentage of home ownership than in California
- The availability,
although somewhat limited, of different housing stock for different
income levels throughout the region
Some indicators,
however, point to the need for additional investment. There is currently
a shortage of staffed hospital beds in the entirety of the Sierra Nevada,
except in the North. More children are being diagnosed with asthma and
are experiencing more serious symptoms due to the increase in air pollution
from commuters to and from the region. School enrollment is on the decline
because of the decreasing number of young families in the region. Home
prices continue to increase, displacing lower income households, forcing
people to live in unaffordable housing, and inhibiting many from purchasing
a home.
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INDICATORS OF SOCIAL CAPITAL
Health
Insurance
Hospital
Capacity
Asthma
School
Enrollment
Educational
Attainment
Youth
Organizations
Child
Poverty Rate
Violent
Crime Rate
Historical
Preservation
Performing
Arts Attendance
Civic
Capacity
Population Growth
Population Migration
Demographics of New Residents
Housing
Indicators
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