One of the nation's poorest cities, Pine Bluff's population has been declining fast.
Severe economic and social problems have plagued the area. Close to a third of the metro area's population lives below the poverty level and it ranks second only to the Detroit for crime.
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Manufacturers have outsourced many of the area's jobs abroad, according to Moody's Analytics and the unemployment rate remained in double-digit territory at 10.5% in January.
