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Rural Minnesota Poll
April 2000
Demographics |
Poll Results | Poll
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How long have you lived in rural Minnesota?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Less than five years | 7% | 7% | 14% |
| 5-9 Years | 12% | 12% | 18% |
| 10-19 Years | 14% | 14% | 21% |
| More than 20 years | 67% | 68% | 47% |
| Refused | 0% | 0% | 1% |
If you had to give on reason as to why you moved to rural Minnesota, what would it be? (Asked of new residents who have lived in rural Minnesota for less than five years)
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Employment | 53% | 54% | 86% |
| Raise kids | 17% | 18% | 7% |
| Quality/Pace/Quiet Life | 13% | 14% | 0% |
| Natural beauty | 7% | 4% | 7% |
| Retirement | 7% | 7% | 0% |
| Other | 3% | 4% | 0% |
Over the past five years, would you say the quality of life in your community has improved, deteriorated or stayed about the same?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Improved | 28% | 27% | 30% |
| Deteriorated | 17% | 18% | 15% |
| Same | 53% | 53% | 55% |
What is the biggest issue facing your community today?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Economy | 19% | 19% | 18% |
| Crime | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Education | 9% | 9% | 10% |
| Taxes | 8% | 8% | 2% |
| Environment | 7% | 7% | 4% |
| Other | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Urban sprawl | 4% | 4% | 2% |
| Drugs/alcohol | 3% | 3% | 4% |
| Teenagers/Raising Kids | 3% | 3% | 5% |
| Race | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Farm Issues | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| Immigrants | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Roads | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| Housing | 1% | 1% | 4% |
| Health Care | 0% | 0% | 1% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 18% | 17% | 24% |
| Farm Issues | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| Immigrants | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Would you say there there is more crime in your community than a year ago, or less?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| More | 44% | 46% | 37% |
| Less | 22% | 20% | 37% |
| Same | 22% | 22% | 16% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 12% | 12% | 10% |
How serious a problem is crime in your community?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Very serious | 10% | 11% | 14% |
| Somewhat serious | 42% | 43% | 29% |
| Not too serious | 34% | 33% | 40% |
| Not a problem | 12% | 12% | 17% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 2% | 0% |
Compared to other rural communities around the state, would you say that your community has more crime, less crime or about the same?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| More | 19% | 19% | 15% |
| Less | 26% | 25% | 36% |
| Same | 49% | 49% | 43% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 2% | 0% |
How often do you worry about being a victim of a personal crime, that is being physically assaulted, or threatened with physical assault.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Frequently | 3% | 3% | 7% |
| Pretty frequently | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| Pretty seldom | 26% | 26% | 22% |
| Very seldom | 62% | 61% | 62% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 2% | 2% | 0% |
How often do you worry about being a victim of a property crime, that is the theft of or damage to your personal property?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Frequently | 12% | 12% | 20% |
| Pretty frequently | 24% | 24% | 24% |
| Pretty seldom | 27% | 27% | 15% |
| Very seldom | 37% | 36% | 41% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 1% | 1% |
How often do you worry about being the victim of a drunk driver?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Frequently | 14% | 14% | 27% |
| Pretty frequently | 22% | 22% | 23% |
| Pretty seldom | 23% | 23% | 20% |
| Very seldom | 40% | 40% | 30% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 1% | 1% |
How often do you worry that you or someone you know would be a victim of domestic violence?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Frequently | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Pretty frequently | 10% | 10% | 18% |
| Pretty seldom | 25% | 25% | 23% |
| Very seldom | 59% | 59% | 45% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 2% | 2% | 4% |
How safe do you feel when you're out alone at night walking in your neighborhood?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Very safe | 41% | 40% | 48% |
| Somewhat safe | 36% | 37% | 28% |
| Somewhat unsafe | 14% | 14% | 17% |
| Very unsafe | 6% | 6% | 4% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 3% | 3% | 4% |
How safe do you feel alone at night in your home?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Very safe | 69% | 69% | 64% |
| Somewhat safe | 24% | 25% | 22% |
| Somewhat unsafe | 5% | 4% | 8% |
| Very unsafe | 2% | 2% | 7% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Do you do any of the following to protect yourself and family from crime.?
Make use of a home alarm system?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 8% | 9% | 12% |
| No | 15% | 15% | 10% |
| Refused | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Regularly lock your home?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 85 | 85% | 90% |
| No | 15% | 15% | 10% |
| Refused | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Regularly lock your car?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 75% | 75% | 79% |
| No | 24% | 24% | 20% |
| Refused | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Own a firearm for personal protection?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 25% | 25% | 23% |
| No | 75% | 75% | 78% |
| Refused | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Drugs and alcohol abuse are the main cause for crime in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 35% | 36% | 40% |
| Somewhat agree | 38% | 38% | 37% |
| Somewhat disagree | 15% | 14% | 14% |
| Strongly disagree | 9% | 10% | 6% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Underage drinking in my community is a serious problem.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 42% | 42% | 51% |
| Somewhat agree | 38% | 39% | 19% |
| Somewhat disagree | 13% | 12% | 17% |
| Strongly disagree | 4% | 4% | 9% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 3% | 3% | 5% |
Drug abuse in my community is a serious problem.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 29% | 30% | 41% |
| Somewhat agree | 45% | 45% | 29% |
| Somewhat disagree | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| Strongly disagree | 8% | 7% | 15% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 3% | 3% | 1% |
Lack of parental control and responsibility are the main cause for crime in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 38% | 39% | 38% |
| Somewhat agree | 43% | 43% | 36% |
| Somewhat disagree | 10% | 10% | 15% |
| Strongly disagree | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Teenagers commit a disproportionate amount of crime in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 17% | 17% | 25% |
| Somewhat agree | 49% | 50% | 37% |
| Somewhat disagree | 19% | 20% | 14% |
| Strongly disagree | 10% | 9% | 19% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 4% | 4% | 6% |
Minorities commit a disproportionate amount of crime in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 21% | 22% | 7% |
| Somewhat agree | 26% | 26% | 27% |
| Somewhat disagree | 25% | 25% | 34% |
| Strongly disagree | 22% | 21% | 26% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 6% | 6% | 7% |
Newcomers commit a disproportionate amount of crime in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Somewhat agree | 26% | 27% | 28% |
| Somewhat disagree | 36% | 36% | 26% |
| Strongly disagree | 22% | 21% | 31% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 7% | 7% | 7% |
Domestic violence is a big problem in my community.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 12% | 12% | 20% |
| Somewhat agree | 40% | 40% | 35% |
| Somewhat disagree | 27% | 28% | 21% |
| Strongly disagree | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 5% | 4% | 11% |
Hate crimes, or crimes against groups or individuals because of their racial or ethnic background or sexual orientation is a problem in rural Minnesota.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 12% | 12% | 22% |
| Somewhat agree | 39% | 39% | 36% |
| Somewhat disagree | 28% | 28% | 30% |
| Strongly disagree | 16% | 16% | 10% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 5% | 5% | 2% |
If I were aware of a domestic violence incident, I would contact the police.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 74% | 74% | 69% |
| Somewhat agree | 22% | 21% | 28% |
| Somewhat disagree | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Strongly disagree | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Generally, the media coverage of crime is fair and accurate, not sensational.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Strongly Agree | 15% | 15% | 9% |
| Somewhat agree | 45% | 45% | 35% |
| Somewhat disagree | 22% | 23% | 17% |
| Strongly disagree | 15% | 13% | 26% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 3% | 3% | 4% |
In your community, when people talk about local crime problems, do they blame minority groups for the problem?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 42% | 40% | 59% |
| No | 51% | 52% | 32% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 7% | 8% | 9% |
If yes, do you personally think this is based in fact?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 31% | 30% | 35% |
| No | 37% | 52% | 45% |
| Somewhat | 29% | 30% | 18% |
In the past three years, have you been pulled over, ticketed, interviewed, assisted by or otherwise had an interaction with the police that serve your community?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 34% | 33% | 41% |
| No | 66% | 66% | 59% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Were you treated fairly by the police?
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 88% | 90% | 60% |
| No | 9% | 8% | 40% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 3% | 3% | 0% |
Police treat minorities with respect and fairness.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Stronly agree | 36% | 38% | 11% |
| Somewhat agree | 36% | 35% | 34% |
| Somewhat disagree | 14% | 14% | 31% |
| Strongly disagree | 4% | 3% | 24% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 10% | 10% | 0% |
Police treat teenagers with respect and fairness
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Stronly agree | 28% | 29% | 22% |
| Somewhat agree | 46% | 45% | 31% |
| Somewhat disagree | 11% | 10% | 26% |
| Strongly disagree | 5% | 5% | 15% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 11% | 11% | 7% |
Police tend to give favorable treatment to old-time residents.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Stronly agree | 29% | 28% | 38% |
| Somewhat agree | 39% | 39% | 33% |
| Somewhat disagree | 13% | 13% | 11% |
| Strongly disagree | 8% | 8% | 11% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 12% | 13% | 7% |
Police treat immigrants with respect and fairness.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Stronly agree | 33% | 34% | 13% |
| Somewhat agree | 36% | 36% | 33% |
| Somewhat disagree | 13% | 11% | 24% |
| Strongly disagree | 1% | 1% | 20% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 18% | 18% | 11% |
I have confidence in the police.
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Stronly agree | 50% | 52% | 32% |
| Somewhat agree | 36% | 35% | 33% |
| Somewhat disagree | 8% | 8% | 20% |
| Strongly disagree | 5% | 5% | 15% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Poll Demographics
Age
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| 18-29 | 12% | 11% | 29% |
| 30-44 | 31% | 31% | 33% |
| 45-59 | 25% | 25% | 20% |
| 60+ | 31% | 32% | 18% |
Sex
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Male | 48% | 47% | 52% |
| Female | 52% | 53% | 48% |
Have Children Under 18
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Yes | 34% | 34% | 48% |
| No | 66% | 66% | 52% |
Party Affiliation
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| DFL | 24% | 24% | 36% |
| Republican | 17% | 17% | 9% |
| Independent | 29% | 29% | 19% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 30% | 30% | 36% |
Political Views
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Liberal | 17% | 17% | 22% |
| Moderate | 38% | 38% | 32% |
| Conservative | 36% | 37% | 26% |
| Don't Know/Refused | 8% | 8% | 21% |
Education
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| High School or Less | 37% | 37% | 50% |
| Some College | 31% | 32% | 32% |
| College Graduate | 22% | 21% | 14% |
| Graduate Degree | 10% | 10% | 4% |
Income
| Option | Rural Minnesota | Whites | Non-whites |
| Less than $15,000 | 11% | 11% | 21% |
| $15,000 - $29,999 | 23% | 23% | 33% |
| $30,000 - $49,000 | 28% | 28% | 26% |
| $50,000 - $79,999 | 19% | 19% | 13% |
| $80,000 + | 7% | 7% | 5% |
| Refused | 12% | 13% | 3% |
POLL METHODOLOGY
The survey was commissioned by the Minnesota Public Radio. It was conducted from March 24-29, 2000 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Washington, D.C.
A total of 417 adult residents in rural Minnesota were surveyed by telephone Those interviewed were selected from a randomly generated list of telephone numbers.
The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus +/-5%. This means that there is a 95% probability that the "true" figure would fall within margin of error if all adult residents were surveyed. There is a greater margin for error for any particular subgroup.
An over-sampling of 102 "non-white" adult residents were also surveyed by telephone. The "non-white" sample included 50 Native Americans and 42 Hispanic/Latino adults. Hispanic/Latino respondents were selected randomly from a listed sample of Hispanic surnames. Native Americans respondents were selected from a listed sample from geographic regions with concentrations of Native American residents. The margin for error for the non-white sample is +/-10%.
The over-sample of 102 "non-whites" was not included in the general "Rural Minnesota" survey results. "Non-white" residents represent approximately 3% of the population in rural Minnesota, and represent 4.3% of the primary sample.
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Poll Copyright 2000, Mason-Dixon Political/Media
Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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