This image I found at this website: http://www.censusmapper.com/CM_Help/choroplethmaps.htm shows the percentage of population in poverty across the United States. It seems to show that the greatest area of poverty is in the Southern and Southeastern portion of the nation. You can also note that there are some "holes" where major cities are located in the South. One could ask if being in a rural area has anything to do with being in poverty.