What is Rural? – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on What is Rural?.
Counties by Metro/Micro Area Status: 2022
Map of the United States displaying metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas by county using data from the Office and Management and Budget (OMB). Uses metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas as defined by OMB as of July 2023.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Map of the United States displaying metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas by county using data from the Office and Management and Budget (OMB). Uses metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas as defined by OMB as of July 2023.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Fact Sheet: How to Define Rurality
Fact sheet defines rural in the context of the Veterans Health Administration. Discusses RUCA codes, Census tracts, and how the VA assigns rurality.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Fact sheet defines rural in the context of the Veterans Health Administration. Discusses RUCA codes, Census tracts, and how the VA assigns rurality.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Development of the Rural Perception Scale (RPS-18)
Examines perceptions of rurality through a survey of 1,384 people in rural Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Provides data breakdowns by geography of 18 perceptions related to belonging, attitudes toward rurality, loneliness, and community social ties. Discusses the relationship between individual factors, the concept of rurality, and geographically defined versus perceived rurality.
Author(s): Sunny Jung Kim, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Jenna E. Schiffelbein, Tracy Onega
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 348-367
Date: 09/2023
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Examines perceptions of rurality through a survey of 1,384 people in rural Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Provides data breakdowns by geography of 18 perceptions related to belonging, attitudes toward rurality, loneliness, and community social ties. Discusses the relationship between individual factors, the concept of rurality, and geographically defined versus perceived rurality.
Author(s): Sunny Jung Kim, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Jenna E. Schiffelbein, Tracy Onega
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 40(2), 348-367
Date: 09/2023
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OMB Bulletin No. 23-01, Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas
Outlines the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, Combined Statistical Areas, and Metropolitan Division – collectively called Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) – for the United States and Puerto Rico. Reflects the 2020 Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in July 2021 and the application of those standards to Census population and journey-to-work data, including the 2020 Decennial Census, American Community Survey, and Census Population Estimates Program data. Also provides guidance on the use of these delineations.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Office of Management and Budget
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Outlines the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, Combined Statistical Areas, and Metropolitan Division – collectively called Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) – for the United States and Puerto Rico. Reflects the 2020 Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in July 2021 and the application of those standards to Census population and journey-to-work data, including the 2020 Decennial Census, American Community Survey, and Census Population Estimates Program data. Also provides guidance on the use of these delineations.
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Office of Management and Budget
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Rural Definitions Used for Eligibility Requirements in USDA Rural Development Programs
Provides an overview of the definitions of rural that are used to determine eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs. Identifies issues that Congress may want to consider related to these definitions and community eligibility.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the definitions of rural that are used to determine eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs. Identifies issues that Congress may want to consider related to these definitions and community eligibility.
Date: 04/2023
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Urban Bias in Rural Data Sets
Policy position paper discussing various classifications of rural, how these definitions may not accurately represent rural areas, and the potential implications for rural populations. Offers policy recommendations regarding rural data infrastructure and the allocation of resources using rural definitions.
Author(s): Leah Bouchard, Isela Garcia, Jacy Warrell
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy position paper discussing various classifications of rural, how these definitions may not accurately represent rural areas, and the potential implications for rural populations. Offers policy recommendations regarding rural data infrastructure and the allocation of resources using rural definitions.
Author(s): Leah Bouchard, Isela Garcia, Jacy Warrell
Date: 02/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Redefining Urban Areas Following the 2020 Census
Provides an overview of changes made to the U.S. Census Bureau urban area criteria following the 2020 Census. Covers the minimum population threshold, housing unit density, and the decision to cease distinguishing between different types of urban areas.
Author(s): Michael Ratcliffe
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Provides an overview of changes made to the U.S. Census Bureau urban area criteria following the 2020 Census. Covers the minimum population threshold, housing unit density, and the decision to cease distinguishing between different types of urban areas.
Author(s): Michael Ratcliffe
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Measuring Rurality in Health Services Research: A Scoping Review
Analyzes peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2020 to provide a scoping review of the different methods of rurality defined and used in health services research. Examines 103 full-text studies across various journals to observe different measures of rurality. Includes discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of the respective measures of rurality and how inconsistent use of measures impacts federal funding and the study of rural health disparities.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, Olena Mazurenko, Nir Menachemi
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 1340
Date: 11/2022
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Analyzes peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2020 to provide a scoping review of the different methods of rurality defined and used in health services research. Examines 103 full-text studies across various journals to observe different measures of rurality. Includes discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of the respective measures of rurality and how inconsistent use of measures impacts federal funding and the study of rural health disparities.
Author(s): Robin Danek, Justin Blackburn, Marion Greene, Olena Mazurenko, Nir Menachemi
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 1340
Date: 11/2022
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Defining Census Bureau Urban Areas
Provides an overview of how the Census Bureau defines urban and rural areas. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Provides an overview of how the Census Bureau defines urban and rural areas. Transcript available in the video description.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Defining Rural America: The Consequences of How We Count
Discusses several federal definitions of rural and the implications of using different definitions. Compares how U.S. Census Bureau and Office Management and Budget (OMB) characterize rural America. Offers principles on how to choose which definition to use to describe rural areas.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Discusses several federal definitions of rural and the implications of using different definitions. Compares how U.S. Census Bureau and Office Management and Budget (OMB) characterize rural America. Offers principles on how to choose which definition to use to describe rural areas.
Date: 07/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center on Rural Innovation
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Last Updated: 3/20/2025