Research from Louisiana State University and Syracuse University challenges widespread misconceptions about America’s rural communities in the new book Rural & Small-Town America: Context, Composition, and Complexities. The researchers note one in five Americans live in rural areas, yet stereotypes persist. Key findings show rural America isn’t disappearing but changing, with one-third of counties growing from 2010 to 2020. Only 6 percent of rural jobs involve farming, while manufacturing and service work dominate employment. One in four rural residents are nonwhite, with diversity increasing annually. Contrary to popular belief, rural Americans face higher mortality rates and shorter lifespans than urban residents, termed the “rural mortality penalty.” Rural children are now less likely than urban children to live with married parents. (Story URL)
PHONE TOPIC: What are some myths Americans believe about urban areas?