Rural Communities

Colorful waterfront homes in Maine finshing village

Maine Housing Market Tightens as New, Younger Residents Move In

State leaders see the influx of younger residents as a boon to Maine’s economy, but this could come at the expense of affordable housing.

February 7, 2023 - Chicago News Cooperative/The New York Times

Aerial view of small rural community in Kentucky with ild rolling hills and sparse development

Rural Communities Growing Faster Than Cities

After a decade of sustained population loss, rural America is bouncing back thanks to shifting demographics and pandemic-induced migration.

December 7, 2022 - Carsey School of Public Policy

Hiking trail through green, forested area

Identifying and Addressing Rural Park and Recreation Needs

Rural communities are not homogeneous. Each has its own unique demographics, location, topography, history, park and recreation needs, and community preferences.

October 24, 2022 - Parks & Rec Business

Aerial view of small rural community in Kentucky with ild rolling hills and sparse development

Senate Bill Would Support Rural Tenants

With housing costs skyrocketing, a proposed bill would extend assistance and help preserve affordable rental housing in rural areas.

September 30, 2022 - The Daily Yonder

Rural road in Central Ohio

Could Inflation Spur an Urban Rebound?

Inflation is hitting rural areas particularly hard. One expert sees the possibility of rural residents reconsidering cities as a place to avoid higher costs associated with rural mobility and to make more money.

August 8, 2022 - MPR News

Person standing under sign that says "Moab Made" in downtown Moab, Utah.

Initiative Brings Capacity Building to Booming Rural Towns

A research and capacity building initiative based at Utah State University seeks to help fast-growing tourist meccas in the West plan for smart growth.

July 4, 2022 - High Country News

Aerial view of Main Street, Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania

Housing Scarcity in Rural America

With the growth of ‘Zoom towns’ and the sharply rising demand for small-town living, rural communities are facing pressure to maintain housing affordability for long-time residents and boost housing production.

April 22, 2022 - Camoin Associates

Aerial view of Broadway Street of Philipsburg, Montana, Philipsburg is a town in and the county seat of Granite County, Montana, United States.

Biden Administration Targets Rural Infrastructure Investments

The federal government is directing billions from the infrastructure package to areas outside of major cities.

April 18, 2022 - Route Fifty

Rural bus stop

How Rural Transit Systems Are Doing More With Less

With limited resources and dispersed service areas, rural transit systems are turning to technology to provide on-demand service and improve transit options for residents.

April 8, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

A close up of a map showing the location of Lincoln, Kansas, at the intersection of highways 14 and 18.

The Great Plains Real Estate Boom

Cities on the Great Plains were giving away land in recent decades in the hopes of attracting new residents. Now they have a different challenge: responding to a sudden, but still modest, spike in demand.

February 3, 2022 - The Hustle

Stormwater Infrastructure

Small Communities Could Lose Out on Infrastructure Funding

Awarding federal funding via competitive grants could block grant opportunities for communities that need them the most.

January 13, 2022 - Governing

Larimer Square

Colorado To Prioritize Climate Impacts in Transportation Projects

Under new state regulations, Colorado transportation projects will be required to reduce GHG emissions and promote more sustainable transportation modes.

December 22, 2021 - Denver Post

Midwest Flooding

Rural Areas Left Behind in Climate Adaptation Plans

While resources pour in for urban climate resilience projects, smaller communities often bear the brunt of extreme weather events.

October 29, 2021 - The Architect's Newspaper

Rural California Road

Report: Rural Communities Urgently Need Safer Transportation

Despite the reputation of rural America as "drive-through country," many residents depend on walking and transit to get around.

October 14, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Intercity Buses

With Little Government Assistance, Intercity Bus Services Struggle to Regain Footing

Although intercity buses provide a crucial service to millions of Americans, the industry has been shut out of recent pandemic assistance programs while riders continue to experience dismal facilities and shrinking service options.

October 4, 2021 - Governing

Mass Vaccination

Vaccination Disparities Between Urban and Rural America

The pandemic has largely been measured by case incidence, down significantly in recent weeks in most states. A new metric, the vaccination rate, may determine where the virus strikes next. The urban-rural divide is a major factor, says the CDC.

May 25, 2021 - CNBC

Rural Bus Stop

Public Transit Isn't Just for Big Cities

Funding cuts and uneven investment in rural areas have left millions of Americans trapped without adequate transportation.

March 4, 2021 - Institute for Policy Studies

Platte River

Building Rural Resilience

Rural areas have been attracting a lot attention for news sources traditionally devoted to urban news and information. A new report from the Brookings Institution is the latest example.

December 2, 2020 - Brookings

Central Valley

3 Myths About Rural America and How to Debunk Them

The effort to debunk common myths about rural America in academia and the news media continues.

November 16, 2020 - Urban Institute

Rural Pandemic

The Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Areas

As the coronavirus outbreak surges across the country, many rural communities are now seeing an unprecedented spike in infections and hospitalizations.

October 26, 2020 - National Public Radio

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

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