It’s no secret that tough financial times are often accompanied by marital discord. Not being sure about income and the future can be stressful for spouses, especially if they have kids to protect and provide for. These factors play a role in divorces throughout the country, but financial strife appears to have been particularly painful for married couples in a town near Amarillo.
For many people in the town of Borger, the honeymoon has long been over. Since the financial meltdown of 2007, the town of more than 13,000 saw its divorce rate nearly double. About 15 percent of the adults in Borger are now divorced, and last year’s drought, along with the community’s other money woes, is a likely culprit in so many divorces.
Reports indicate that the small-town residents of Borger are not alone in their changed marital status. Small towns across the nation have seen spikes in divorce rates, and the largest increases have occurred in the past two years. In fact, since 2007, about two-thirds of all the cities in the United States have recorded higher percentages of divorced adults.
In all, roughly 11 percent of adults in the U.S. have gone through a divorce. That number represents an increase of .5 percent since 2007. That half of a percent may seem small when written, but that increase is quite significant when you consider the total population of the country.
Unpredictable work schedules and financial uncertainty have been especially difficult for married couples in the last several years. Still, divorce is the right choice in many cases. When married life takes an irreconcilable turn, Texans need to be aware of their options for a fair and equitable divorce settlement that is appropriate for all parties involved.
Source: Bloomberg, “Gusher of Texas Oil-Patch Divorces Leads Breakup Trend,” Frank Bass, Dec. 18, 2012
