The Geographic Distribution of Home Computer Ownership in the Southeast: An Analysis of Racial and Economic Differences

Although empirical studies on the "digital divide" have examined differences in computer access at the national scale, statewide variations in personal computer (PC) ownership have not been assessed at the regional scale. The objective of this article is to examine the geographic distribution and extent of the racial and economic divides in home PC ownership across 10 states of the U.S. Southeast. Recent data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey are used to compare the proportion of households owning a PC in each state and the region as a whole. Our results indicate that White households are significantly more likely to own a PC than African American households in all 10 states. The extent of this racial divide is particularly large in rural states such as Alabama and Mississippi, where African American ownership rates are smaller than in other states. A significant difference in PC ownership also exists in all states between the highest- and lowest-income households, particularly in Tennessee and Georgia. Our analyses emphasize the importance of a state-level approach for understanding the nature of the digital divide.