B. Economic Profile

Exhibit 3.5 depicts the federal poverty level thresholds as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services. This will be useful as the Lompoc poverty tables are examined.

Exhibit 3.5: Federal Poverty Level Thresholds

Source: U.S. Census

The population that is under 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level is 6,168 or 11.4% of the population and 9,980 or 18.5% of the population, respectively. 70.1% of the population or 37,930 people are above 200% of the poverty level. California has a slightly higher proportion, 12.5% of the population, under the 100% of the poverty level, a slightly lower proportion, 17.6% under 200%, and slightly lower proportion, 69.9% over 200% of the poverty level. See Table 3.2 and Exhibit 3.6 below.

Exhibit 3.6: Poverty Ratios

Source: Claritas, Inc., 1990

Table 3.3 and Exhibit 3.7 concern persons living below the poverty level by age. The greatest percentage of the population living below this level is the 25-44 age group at 3.2%, followed by the 5-11 age group at 2.3%, the 0-4 age group at 1.7%, the 18-24 category at 1.3% and the 12-17 age group at 1.1%. The proportion of the population living below the poverty level falls to less than 1% for age groups 45 and older.

Exhibit 3.7: Population Under the Poverty Level by Age

Source: Claritas, Inc., 1990

As a percent of the population by ethnic or racial category, a higher proportion of Caucasians and Hispanics live under the poverty level than any other group. Exhibit 3.8 illustrates that 36% of Caucasians and nearly 29% of Hispanics live under the poverty level. Together, Caucasians and Hispanics make up well over 80% of the total service area population.

Exhibit 3.8: Poverty Level by Ethnicity/Race

Source: Claritas, Inc.

The heavy concentration of military personnel, the federal prison system, agricultural businesses employing migrant workers and the lack of large corporate employers in Lompoc has resulted in a lower per capita income for the area compared to the state as a whole. Exhibit 3.9 shows the per capita income for Lompoc at $16,600 as compared to $19,900 for California in 1996.

Exhibit 3.9: Per Capita Income

Source: U.S. Census

As depicted in Exhibit 3.10, the unemployment rate for the service area is lower than California by approximately 1.5% in 1996, .9% in 1990 and 1.6% in 1980. The 1996 Lompoc unemployment rate is 5.7%, up from 4.9% in 1990, and 5.6% in 1980. Exhibit 3.11 illustrates the monthly unemployment trend for Lompoc. From January 1994 through November 1996, the unemployment rate was low but rose from October through January, ranging from a low of 4.8% to a high of 8.8%. This seasonality is most likely attributable to the high percent of migrant workers who live in the service area and are often without work during the winter months.

Exhibit 3.10: Unemployment Rate

Source: Employment Development Department, Labor

Exhibit 3.11: Unemployment by Month

Source: Employment Development Department, Labor

In summary, the demographic and economic profile of the Lompoc service area reveals that Lompoc's population has grown significantly since 1980. In addition, the make-up of this population reflects California's ethnic and racial mix, but is slightly younger and poorer than the state as a whole.

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