Rural areas are defined as geographic areas that are outside of cities and towns. These areas usually have low population densities and small settlements. Typically, rural areas are agricultural or forestry-based. Rural areas are different from cities and towns, but there are some common characteristics. Here is a quick overview of what makes up a rural area.
Population
Several factors determine a county’s rural population. These factors influence people’s decision to live in a particular county, invest in real estate there, retire in a rural area, or vacation there. These factors also impact the experience of rural residents. For example, rural residents’ perception of rural living is influenced by how other people see their community.
Research shows that rural populations have lower levels of socioeconomic status than urban populations, and this trend is especially pronounced in rural areas. There are many causes and consequences of rural change, including economic, social, and environmental factors. These factors can affect the health of a community, and it is crucial to address them to promote healthy and sustainable rural communities.
However, recent research shows that the demographic trends in rural areas are shifting again. For example, counties adjacent to a large city may be experiencing net migration gains. However, rural counties with no large city are experiencing net migration losses. Although there may be some positive changes in the demographics of rural areas, a renewed natural increase in rural areas is unlikely.
Housing
The United States and United Kingdom consider rural housing to be inadequate. In both countries, there are government programs to provide housing for rural residents. However, these programs do not always provide adequate housing. In rural areas, the availability of land and other resources is often limited. Moreover, the cost of housing is often prohibitive for people.
One government program for rural housing is the USDA 502 Direct Loan program. These loans are meant to help low-income residents purchase homes. However, the government is cutting these funds significantly. In 2013, the funding for these programs dropped from $2.1 billion to only $828 million. While some people point the finger at the current administration, others say the funding decrease is a reflection of a lower priority placed on rural issues in general.
In the United States, many nonprofit organizations are providing loans and advocacy for rural communities. For example, Knox Housing Partners in Appalachia has built an affordable senior housing complex and NeighborWorks of West Vermont has assisted hundreds of homeowners with energy efficiency improvements. These programs are especially important for rural residents.
Distance from urban centers
The rural distance to urban centers can vary considerably. A person living in a rural area can be more than five times as far away from the nearest hospital as someone living in an urban area. However, this does not mean that rural residents have less access to health care. While rural Americans are generally farther away from urban centers, they still enjoy better access to health care than city dwellers.
While rural distance to urban centers is one measure of rurality, the relationship between population size and community satisfaction is less clear. Nevertheless, both distance and population size complement each other as place-based elements of community satisfaction. The results of a recent study suggest that residents of small-populated communities have a higher level of satisfaction than those living in larger, more populated areas.
The distance to a primary care clinic was a significant determinant of remission and PDS among rural and urban patients. Those living more than 34 km from a primary care clinic had a lower risk of remission and increased risks of PDS. However, these results did not change significantly when distance was controlled for other factors.
Frontier areas
Delineating frontier areas is a critical task for rural health professionals and policymakers. These areas are distinct from other rural areas because of their low population density and geographic remoteness. These areas require increased efforts for population retention, job creation, and provision of services and consumer items. Recent research suggests that small population size and remoteness are associated with negative health outcomes and have an economic and demographic impact.
A common misconception is that a frontier area is not considered to be rural. However, some studies have found that these rural areas have relatively few resources and are a great place to live. For example, Kauai’s largest city is Kappa, and the entire island is classified as a frontier area.
A fundamental challenge for frontier communities is increased per capita costs for providing services. This includes health care and education. The cost of providing these services increases due to the distance and low population density.
Population density
The population density of rural areas is a basic indicator of socio-economic development. It is correlated with the distribution of population, altitude, and natural resources in a given region. The population density of rural areas can be defined as the number of people living in a given area per square kilometer.
The density of a population has been found to influence transmission of diseases, including measles. Previous studies have examined the relationship between density and outbreak size, but most of these studies have focused on urban districts. In rural areas, the density is lower than in urban areas, allowing for variations to be analyzed to better understand the dynamics of epidemics.
The spatial correlation of population size in rural areas and urban areas is 0.13 for districts adjacent to each other, but falls to zero after 40 km. The authors suggest that population scaling contributes to this spatial correlation, although further research is necessary to verify the hypothesis. Moreover, heterogeneous mixing patterns in rural areas may reveal subtle differences in epidemic spillovers.
Population decline may also affect social integration in rural areas. This may affect individuals’ capacity to compensate for the reduced population density.
Research institutes with rural mandates
Research institutes with rural mandates focus on addressing the needs of rural populations. By identifying the most pressing needs of these communities, they can create policies to address those needs. This concept is often referred to as rural proofing. The goal of these institutes is to increase rural access to healthcare.
These rural serving institutions have unique demographics and play an important role in rural communities. Many of these institutions are not actually rural, but they serve a rural population. They are vitally important to the economy, and it is critical that they be supported in their missions. By ensuring that these institutions have adequate funding, they can ensure that they remain viable candidates for funding.
Providing high-quality research in rural areas is a critical part of the work that healthcare organizations must do to support their communities. The emergence of telehealth has made this goal possible. This technology allows patients in remote areas to access specialists in a timely manner. Furthermore, it can provide local healthcare providers with access to subspecialists, including those with a rural mandate.
There are many private foundations that are dedicated to improving rural access to healthcare. These organizations fund transportation services, workforce development, and other factors that affect rural healthcare access. They also offer grants to develop new healthcare delivery models. These organizations also conduct research to address policy implications.
Problems with definitions
Rural is a multidimensional term that means different things to different individuals, organizations, and government agencies. As a result, it is challenging to identify and study rural areas. Yet, defining rural is important for policymakers, funders, service providers, and researchers. Using a standard definition for rural areas helps researchers and policymakers understand what rural is and how to use it to solve the country’s rural problems.
Researchers must carefully consider which definitions are appropriate for the field they are working in. There are more than two dozen different rural definitions used by Federal agencies, and one study may have a different definition than another. For example, a study on the effects of suburban development in rural areas may not target the same types of rural communities as another one on rural businesses and small governments.
Because these definitions have different meanings, they can cause confusion. People who don’t know the difference may hear different numbers for the same rural statistic. While the numbers might be accurate, it is important to understand the differences between the different definitions before using them in research.
