The institute is about providing innovative solutions to America’s long-standing rural challenges.
Our Areas of Rural Interest
Rural counties have fewer health care workers, specialists, critical care units, emergency facilities and transportation options
As of 2014, 39 percent of the rural population lacked access to broadband at speeds necessary for advanced data transfer
National and local studies suggest low-income, minority and rural neighborhoods often have less access to healthy foods
How land is used across the nation: 654 million acres for pasture/range; 538.6 million acres for forests; and 391.5 million acres for cropland
Realities of Rural America
59+ million
Number of people who live in rural areas in a community with fewer than 2,500
29 million
Number of people who live in a community between 2,500 and 50,000
16.4 percent
In 2017, the rural poverty rate stood at this percentage compared to urban at 12.9 percent
1 in 5
Number of American children who live in rural areas