Where have all the Lpns gone??

This is obviously only my opinion, and what I see in my area but, a lot of hospitals in my area are going to all rn staffs. There are a few around that still hire LPN's but only a handful. That reason coupled with the constant threat/rumor (or whatever) that eventually nursing will go all BSN might have a lot to do with why more and more people are continuing on for their RN. I'm sure there are other reasons such as program availability, pay scale yadda yadda as well that all contribute.

LPNs are more heavily used in LTC and nursing homes.

I'm originally from Southeast Missouri, a very rural area... And there, LPN's mostly worked in nursing homes, and you were most likely to find RN's working in hospitals. But I have been living in the Seattle/Tacoma area for two years, and I find LPN's working in a variety of settings here. When I was pregnant, and I would go for my prenatal checkups, all the nurses there were LPN's. And I've also seen many in hospitals, but most were still RN's.. I guess just as every job, there will be more opportunities in a larger city.