The current generation of small town residents will not be replaced. They'll simply die off and create ghost towns. If a midwestern "town" doesn't now have a medical center, a community college, a proper grocery store, a Walmart, and a chain hardware store, in fifty years it'll probably be abandoned.
This will really accelerate if states institutionalize online primary education in an attempt to get in front of home schooling. In many small towns the school is the last remaining big employer.
In parallel, if a high speed network is established in the east and west coastal areas, it will begin to grow inwards to reach more top-25 cities.
You're correct, but there's more to it then that.
Rural counties are experiencing population loss.
The current generation of small town residents will not be replaced. They'll simply die off and create ghost towns. If a midwestern "town" doesn't now have a medical center, a community college, a proper grocery store, a Walmart, and a chain hardware store, in fifty years it'll probably be abandoned.
This will really accelerate if states institutionalize online primary education in an attempt to get in front of home schooling. In many small towns the school is the last remaining big employer.
In parallel, if a high speed network is established in the east and west coastal areas, it will begin to grow inwards to reach more top-25 cities.