Part 5/7:

The narrator’s journey leads them to Cedarville, a town that has faced even more drastic population decline, with numbers dropping from a peak of 1,440 in 1920 to around 476 at the last census. Cedarville’s landscape is quite different, showing signs of significant decay, such as abandoned buildings and overgrown properties that hint at a struggle to maintain the town's heritage.

The ethnic breakdown shows 76% of residents are white and 15% Hispanic, showcasing a blend of cultures, albeit with a workforce that seems diminished. Cedarville’s median household income is lower than in the previous towns, at $44,844, and a concerning poverty rate of 21.7% casts a shadow over its community vibrancy.