While I would love to have a classroom full of museum administrators in a
Sociology Research Methods class analyzing wages and their implications in
real world situations, the reference is taken from the 1996 table of
statistics presented by the Bureau of the Census reflecting national
averages.

The government uses the term "Poverty Level" and national averaging in
evaluating requests for public assistance, food stamps, and other
government services. It is possible for people to be employed in a full
time job and still be eligible for food stamps or other services. Many of
these services are not requested due to misunderstandings of terms like
"poverty" or for other personal or social reasons.

Rural communities often are eligible and actively recieve government
assistance. American Indian reservations, farm communities, rural coal
mining districts, and other areas have inidviduals who represent
significant numbers of those involved in poverty. The lower costs for real
estate in rural areas seemingly does not offset the other factors which
cause the government to see those rural individuals as eligible.

Not applying does not alter the fact that many individuals qualify under
national averaging limits for these services.

Best,

Paul Apodaca