Similar story from the rural area I work in. There is no opportunity. The furniture plants went overseas, and nothing came to replace them. The largest employers are the county government and the school system. Young people with any ambition leave.
Here in NJ the costs of those government employees prevent any sane young people from buying homes here (or opening businesses). Many financial jobs left, the manufacturing jobs left decades ago, so everyone wants to get on the government workfare rolls or flee...