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rural

Is rural America really doing so badly?

November 2020

Nearly half of rural communities have grown so much since the 1970s they are now classified as “urban.” Those that remain are diverse, but often have more specialized economies.

The health and fiscal vulnerability of rural recreation counties

April 2020

Hikers visit Arches National Park in Utah.

Where rural recreation counties rely on public funding for health care, fiscal solutions should diversify the ways local governments can save and spend.

Seniors in counties without hospitals are at the greatest risk

March 2020

Nearly one in five U.S. counties has a higher-than-average share of seniors and no hospital beds.

Tension as Catalyst: Public Lands and the Rural West

March 2020

Aerial view of rural town in Montana. (Martinsdale, MT)

View a presentation given at the Our America’s Rural Opportunity forum about the context of public lands and the rural west.

Newsletter: July 2019

July 2019

Our latest newsletter contains research on the economic importance of public lands, wildfire hazard assessments, and rural resilience. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Getting Real About Rural Resilience

April 2019

Headwaters-staff-Mark-Haggerty

Rural and isolated communities face wrenching economic and demographic transitions. A solution to uncertainty is to focus on resilience.

How Outdoor Recreation Supports Rural Economic Development

February 2019

Family riding bikes on trail

Investing in outdoor recreation is one of several strategies that can help rural communities thrive in a changing economy.

Economy Surprisingly Dependent on Non-Labor Income

August 2017

Non-labor income sources such as investments, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid often are the largest and fastest growing sources of personal income for many counties. Rural counties especially are surprisingly dependent on non-labor income.

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