A story almost as much about Plains, Georgia, as it is about Jimmy Carter

Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan report today for the Washington Post under the headline, "The un-celebrity president."  The subhead is "Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly in his hometown." Both Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, were born in Plains more than nine decades ago.  Plains, population 776, is in Sumter County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta.  

When Carter left the presidency, his peanut farm--which had been held in a blind trust--was more than $1 million in debt.  He sold it and has lived over the $200,000 pension former presidents receive, as well as royalties from the 33 books he has written since becoming a former president.  

Sumter County is 42% white, nearly 52% black.  It is 5.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.  The poverty rate in Sumter County is 33.6%; the poverty rate for children exceeds 50%.  Of those aged 65 or older, 17.9% are living in poverty (thanks, no doubt, to Social Security).  

The story features some fabulous photos of Plains as it does, of course, of President Carter and the former first lady.  The very fact he has chosen to live here rather than somewhere else speaks volumes about who he is as an individual, his values.