rural county
Sparse farmland region
A rural county is an administrative division characterized by low population density, agricultural land use, and small towns or villages rather than cities.
In the United States, counties are classified as rural based on population thresholds set by federal agencies, though the exact cutoffs vary.
Rural counties typically have economies centered on farming, ranching, mining, or forestry, and residents often travel considerable distances to access services available in more populated areas.
- dirt roadUnpaved rural thoroughfare
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
- shedCast off naturally
- countrysideRural area beyond towns
- agricultureCultivation of land, livestock
hamlet · neighborliness · zoning laws · dairy farming · grain elevator · voting precincts · broadband access · watershed · conservation programs · post office · land grants · farmland · back forty · open range · septic system · agritourism · volunteer fire department · small town
- rural Americanafarm, church, farmer, covered bridges, country stores
- small communitieshamlet, village, small town, outpost, settlement
rural countymetropolitan area
City plus linked suburbs
city · urban center · inner city · metropolis · downtown
rural countycommercial hub
Economic activity nucleus
financial district · tech corridor · manufacturing center · business district · industrial heartland