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Over-65 Growth
Benefits Economy
There is increasing interest in Rappahannock County these days in the over-65 segment of its population. The men and women in that age bracket are emerging, collectively, as a more important element in the local economy than ever before. Proportionately, they have been expanding at a more rapid rate in the last ten years than most other age groups. Approximately 1 out of every 8.1 local residents is now in the plus-65 category. And, because the majority of them have become more selfsufficient than their counterparts were in previous years, their status as consumers has risen. As a result, they have become the sales targets of manufacturers and merchants who have found that they can boost their sales volumes by giving special attention to the needs and desires of the elderly. Politically, also, they are being courted. Their influence is great, not only because of their growing size but because most of them get to the polls on election day. In Rappahannock County, the latest figures show, those in the over-65 bracket now number 637. Of the overall population they represent 12.3 percent. In 1960 they totaled 11.5 percent. Throughout the United States as a whole, the supper age group constitutes 9.9 percent of the total. It represents 9.6 percent in the South Atlantic States. In most parts of the country, the figures show, women have a much better longevity record than men. This is the borne out by the last census, which counted 139 women over 65 for every 100 men. In Rapphannock County, however, the number of women of that age is 316 and the number of men, 321.
Although many elderly people are having a hard time these days, financially, because of the constantly rising cost of living, the majority are holding their own by virtue of increased social security benefits, medicare and special tax reductions.
As a group, their combined purchasing power is about $45 billion a year, which is much greater than it was 10 years ago
Cigarettes - -
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according to a breakdown of regional figures released by the Tobacco Tax Council.
Related to the local population over age 18, this was equivalent to 199 packs per capita.
Compared with some areas of the country, this was low and, compared to others, high. The average nationally was 202 packs. It was 218 in the South Atlantic States.
A decline has been noted in the number of women smokers in the last few years. There are now some 300,000 fewer female smokers than there were in 1966, survey figures show, despite a population increase of three million adult women.
According to Dr. Daniel Horn of the National Clearing House on Smoking and Health, giving up cigarettes seems to be more difficult for women than for men. And, even when they do quit, they find it harder to stay quit.
How much does the average Rappahannock County smoker spend per year for cigarettes? Approximately $60, it is estimated. For the local community as a whole, the total is close to $195,000.
95.6%