AbstractThe influence of rural variables on young children's poverty status, adjusting for individual and family characteristics, is explored. The literature suggests that specific demographic variables exert an overwhelming influence on children's poverty status. This is confirmed with data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Results also suggest that the residential histories of children have consequences for their poverty status, even after the influence of control variables has been taken into account. The conclusion identifies the integration of survey and ecological data as one promising direction for future research on childhood poverty.