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Thanks to the recession, 2009 was one of the worst years for poverty
in America in more than half a century. The total number of Americans living in poverty
hit 43.6 million, the highest level in 51 years and the national
poverty rate rose to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent, according to data
released last month by the Census Bureau.

All told, one in seven Americans are living in poverty. To visualize America's startling rise in poverty, Mint, the personal finance site, put together this interactive chart of regional poverty rates.

Among the hardest-hit states are Louisiana, Mississippi and certain
areas of Texas. States with the lowest poverty statistics include
Wyoming, Hawaii, Minnesota and several East Coast states. (See: List ... >>>