Tracking Changes in the North Country

Image of a woman looking a snow covered lake

The Carsey School of Public Policy is working with the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to conduct three research projects designed to examine the attitudes and experiences of Coös County residents as the region is challenged following the closing of area paper mills.


Current Research Projects

The Coös Youth Study is a ten-year research project exploring young people’s decisions about their educational and job opportunities in Coös County and their plans to stay in Coös or move away. The study began in 2008 with financial support from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund and has since gained additional support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). It is planned to continue through 2018, surveying the same participants a minimum of once every two years as well as following up with a smaller group of participants for more in-depth interviews. As the study progresses, we are beginning to see trends in the decisions young people are making about their lives and goals.

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As one of our Community and Environment in Rural America (CERA) study areas, we periodically conduct telephone surveys to learn more about how Coös County and other North Country residents view the changes happening in their communities and the region. From 2009 to 2011, we also conducted a case study of community change through interviews and surveys of community leaders, observations and group conversations, and content analysis of relevant newspapers and documents.

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The Northern New England Indicators Site provides interactive access to socio-economic indicators for the states and counties of northern New England. Our aim is to equip policymakers, researchers, and the general public with an easy-to-use website to assist with regional analyses and community development. Informative and interactive, the website allows users to search on specific Northern New England indicators of well-being, and view tables and graphs that can be used in reports and presentations.

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