<P> Today, Alabama's rural Black Belt includes some of the poorest counties in the United States . Along with high rates of poverty, the area is typified by declining populations, a primarily agricultural landscape with low - density settlement, high unemployment, poor access to education and medical care, substandard housing and high rates of crime . </P> <P> The list of counties comprising the Black Belt is often dependent on the context but historically includes 18 counties: </P> <Ul> <Li> Barbour </Li> <Li> Bullock </Li> <Li> Butler </Li> <Li> Choctaw </Li> <Li> Crenshaw </Li> <Li> Dallas </Li> <Li> Greene </Li> <Li> Hale </Li> <Li> Lowndes </Li> <Li> Macon </Li> <Li> Marengo </Li> <Li> Montgomery </Li> <Li> Perry </Li> <Li> Pickens </Li> <Li> Pike </Li> <Li> Russell </Li> <Li> Sumter </Li> <Li> Wilcox </Li> </Ul> <P> Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe, and Washington counties are sometimes included in the region, but are usually considered part of Alabama's southern coastal plain . Lamar does not meet the soil traits but is often included due to its rural character . </P>

What are the black belt counties in alabama