Parkland, Washington
Parkland, Washington, is an unincorporated suburb of Tacoma that does not have to deal with the age-old “Aroma of Tacoma” — an industrial stench that still lingers in the port city on occasion — but its economic woes are even worse. It has a much higher unemployment and poverty rate than the rest of the state, and only 17% of adults over 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Parkland, on the other hand, has a respectable median household income of $55,000, which is higher than the state average. Residents claim that Pacific Lutheran University’s presence benefits the community economically and culturally, but that the benefit doesn’t extend much beyond the university’s grounds.
Parkland, Washington
Cloquet, Minnesota
Even after a fire fueled by dry tinder engulfed the town and destroyed much of the surrounding area in 1918, Cloquet’s history is so intertwined with the lumber industry that it has earned the nickname “Wood City.” Over the course of more than a century, Cloquet’s paper mill, matchstick plant, and ceiling tile factory have all provided hundreds of jobs to Minnesotans, but that way of life appears to be on its way out. In 2017, the matchstick factory in Cloquet closed its doors. According to MarketPlace Research, jobs in wood manufacturing and paper mills in Minnesota have decreased by more than 30% and 20%, respectively, over the previous decade. Residents claim that outside of the two remaining factories, there are few job opportunities and that there isn’t much to do besides exploring the surrounding nature. In this area, the median household income is slightly higher than $54,000.
Cloquet, Minnesota
