Community Development in Rural Texas: A Case Study of Balmorhea Public Schools

Abstract

Hispanic Americans account for an increasing share of the population in rural areas and are considered the fastest growing rural minority group. Communities with proportionately higher concentrations of Hispanics tend to have greater poverty, lower median incomes, and smaller proportions of residents with high school or college degrees. The rural Hispanic population represents an increasing opportunity for community developers. The local school is often the center of a rural community and offers a good institutional base for a local community and economic development program. This article discusses a case study of a rural community development program in rural Balmorhea, Texas that features a school-based clinic, service leaming classes, and other community services. This school-based community development model offers one approach to community development in rural Hispanic communities.