Utilizing data compiled from the 1970 U.S. Census of Population, this statistical analysis presents a comparison of the socioeconomic characteristics of growing and declining nonmetropolitan U.S. counties. In addition, separate analyses are presented for whites and racial minorities and for South and nonsouth regions (since analysis is limited to those counties having at least 250 racial minority residents and since 2/3 of these are located in the South, the analysis of national level nonmetropolitan data is heavily weighted by southern counties). This analysis indicates that when compared with growing nonmetropolitan counties, the declining nonmetropolitan counties have: (1) a deficit of working age population; (2) a higher proportion of dependent age groups; (3) a lower median educational attainment among the minority population; (4) a lower rate of female participation in the labor force (33.7% vs 37.9%); (5) a lower median family income ($6,546 vs $8,027); (6) less employment in manufacturing (23.1% vs 26.9%); (7) a higher than average amount of employment in low-wage/low-skill extractive industries (20.1% vs 6.5%); and (8) a higher percentage of families whose income falls below the poverty line. This analysis indicates a declining population affects an area's socioeconomic composition, age and labor force structures, and its ability to generate income. (JC)