Rural societies
Rural societies are communities located outside of urban areas, characterized by smaller populations typically under 2,500 residents and substantial open land dedicated to agriculture or natural resources. These communities often exhibit a homogenous demographic, where residents may share similar occupations, incomes, and social affiliations. Although rural areas constitute about 75 percent of the United States' land, only around 16 percent of the population resides there, a trend that has been declining since World War II due to various factors including advances in agricultural technology and the search for job opportunities in urban centers.
Life in rural societies is shaped by close-knit relationships, with residents frequently interacting face-to-face and relying on one another for support. Agriculture serves as the primary livelihood, making communities vulnerable to natural disasters such as droughts or floods, which can significantly impact their economy. Despite the challenges, the advent of technology and the Internet has begun to alter rural life, providing residents with access to online resources and shopping. Efforts to revitalize and attract populations to rural areas are ongoing, with initiatives such as financial incentives for graduates willing to relocate. Overall, rural societies present a unique blend of tradition, community bonding, and adaptation to modern challenges.
Rural societies
Rural societies exist outside towns and cities and have smaller populations than urban areas. They usually have agriculture, forests, or a large amount of open land. Rural communities are often composed of homogenous populations that have fewer than 2,500 residents. Many small towns in rural areas include a main thoroughfare, a courthouse, and a limited number of shops. Populations within rural communities have been steadily declining since the end of World War II (1939–1945). In the mid-2010s and early 2020s, between 13 and 15 percent of the United States population resided in rural areas, while more than 80 percent of Americans lived in urban areas where they had easier access to housing, schools, and jobs.
Rural communities have large amounts of land and few people. People in rural communities often live on larger pieces of land, farther from their neighbors. Land is usually less expensive in rural areas, so housing and land costs are typically more affordable. People may live on land used for agricultural purposes. Many people in rural communities live on farms or ranches and depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. Forests and mining areas are part of some rural communities as well. People in rural communities are more likely to depend on their natural resources. Droughts, fires, floods, and other natural disasters can greatly impact people living in rural communities.
Background
Federal agencies define rural and urban areas differently. According to the US Census Bureau, an urban area "must encompass at least 2,000 housing units or have a population of at least 5,000." All people, housing, and territory outside areas that fit this criteria are considered rural. The Office of Management and Budget describes counties as metropolitan or metro (urban core of 50,000 or more people), micropolitan or micro (urban core of 10,000 to 49,999 people), or neither. Metropolitan areas are urban, micropolitans refer to a smaller, less populated urban centers, and areas that do not meet either criteria are rural. The US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service uses a unique definition that combines the definitions of the Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget with a few additional criteria, such as terrain ruggedness.
By 1920, more than half of the United States population resided in areas that were considered urban. This was a marked change from life in America in the 1800s and early 1900s. A more drastic change occurred at the end of World War II, when many families moved to urban areas in search of higher-paying jobs and advanced education and training. Many people also moved to the suburbs, on the outskirts of urban areas, where they could purchase a new house for an affordable price with schools and jobs nearby.
For the first time in American history, rural populations declined in the late 1940s. Families moved away from rural areas for many different reasons. One reason was due to the advances in farm technology. Before World War II, large numbers of workers were needed to run a farm. With advances in technology and machinery, such as tractors and commercial fertilizer, fewer people were needed to run the farms in rural areas.
The G.I. Bill, which was extended to veterans after the war, provided new opportunities for US servicemembers. Many men who joined the service as teenagers left rural areas permanently when they returned home from the war. They attended college or got specialized training provided by the government through the G.I. Bill. People became educated, got married, and raised children, leaving their rural roots behind.
There has also been a continued "natural decrease" in rural areas as more people have died than have been born, resulting in smaller communities. The declining United States birthrate is another contributing factor to this natural decrease.
Earning high wages has also been a growing problem in rural communities. From the late 2010s through the mid-2020s, between 17 and 25 percent of the people residing in rural communities were living in poverty partially because wages and job opportunities are often lower in less populated areas. With the decline in rural communities' populations has come less representation in government for people living in these areas. In 2012, the Farm Bill, which was designed to help farmers survive natural disasters and pay for research of food safety and resource conservation, was unable to pass in Congress. By 2024, only about 20 percent of politicians represented constituents who lived in rural communities.
Overview
Rural communities have more space and less density than urban areas. Although only 13 to 20 percent of Americans reside in rural areas, about 75 percent of the country’s land is rural countryside. In rural societies, the commercial town area is smaller, and the population is lower than in urban areas. Additionally, town centers offer fewer choices and higher prices than larger urban areas where more shops compete for business.
People know each other within rural communities, and many have face-to-face interaction on a regular basis and depend on each other. Families within these communities have known each other for a long time, and there is a sense of continuity and familiarity.
In rural areas, agriculture is the main occupation of many of the people in the community. They are dependent on their land, and a natural disaster, such as a drought or a fall blizzard, could devastate their livelihood.
Rural communities often have homogenous populations. Residents may be employed at similar jobs and have similar incomes. Many residents may have the same church affiliation, belong to the same garden club, or actively support the same small high school football team. Many people who live in rural communities enjoy spending time in nature.
The family unit is usually close and dependent on each other in rural communities. There are fewer outside influences. However, the Internet and increasing technology have changed life for many people in rural areas. Most rural areas have Internet access, and residents can shop online for groceries, pharmaceuticals, and other necessities.
Efforts to increase populations in rural areas have been underway in the twenty-first century. In 2011, the Kansas governor proposed Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) legislation to increase residency in rural Kansas. The ROZ program offered $15,000 over five years to repay student loans to college graduates willing to move into a rural Kansas community. Students who opted to move to a ROZ county from out of the state would not have to pay any state income tax for five years. The Kansas state legislature voted overwhelmingly to approve the ROZ bill. Other strategies have included promoting agricultural exports, expanding public transportation options, supporting sustainable farming, and improving healthcare resources in rural areas. The Environmental Protection Agency and the International City and County Management Association’s Smart Growth Strategies have also aimed to revitalize rural communities. The Cool and Connected planning assistance program worked with federal agencies to create a nine-action-item plan that communities can use to revitalize their towns, including establishing municipal broadband service and encouraging local businesses to operate online stores and have a social media presence.
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