Poverty rates among children under age 6 ranged from under 12 percent in New Hampshire and Utah to 40 percent or more in Louisiana and West Virginia. California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and West Virginia have rates that significantly exceed the 1992-96 national rate of 24.7 percent. Fifteen States have rates that are significantly lower than the national rate. The rate increased from 22.0 percent to 24.7 percent nationally between 1979-83 and 1992-96. Three crucial demographic factors that help explain the differences among the States in these changes are family structure, parental education, and parental employment. Findings indicated that the dramatic State variations in both the levels and the rate of growth in the young child poverty rate underscores the importance of focusing on poverty at the State level. Table and figure