Rural Communities

America’s youngest children have the highest rates of poverty compared to other ages, and rural kids have the worst rates of poverty compared to all other age or geographic groups.

"We frequently hear that immigrants are a drain on the economy and resources. But this data shows a very different picture."

Rural broadband access, though still lower than urban access, is improving. Another important challenge is for for local businesses and community groups to leverage their use of broadband to bring in new dollars.

He no longer needs to use nitrogen fertilizer or fungicide, he said, and he produces yields that are above the county average with less labor and lower costs. "Nature can heal if we give her the chance," Mr. Brown said.

Though their hometowns and individual identities are unique, they share a common sense of what it means to grow up and live in rural communities.

The research also identified various "population cliffs" where certain services or characteristics became a concern.

Although it accounts for less than a fifth of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s overall budget, the Rural Development agency gets outsized scrutiny from the many rural groups that rely on it for program funds.

What’s needed is a new bargain in our states and regions.

One place that correlates with more happiness is the line between rural and urban areas, where residents may benefit from the best of both worlds.

A newly published study shows that 56% of rural medical practices have adopted electronic records, while only 49% of metropolitan practices have done so.