Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Defining Rural at the U.S. Census Bureau
Defining Rural at the U.S. Census Bureau
Report Number ACSGEO-1
Introduction
What image comes to mind when thinking of a rural place? Does it include the farmhouse down the road? Does it include the new housing subdivision on the outskirts of town? Does it include the community that has formed at the crossroads?
The U.S. Census Bureau defines rural as what is not urban—that is, after defining individual urban areas, rural is what is left. Other federal agencies and researchers may use a different definition of rural. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service illustrates that there are several different ways to measure rural communities.
This brief highlights the history of delineating rural at the Census Bureau, the current delineations of urban/rural areas, and the relationship that exists between decennial censuses, the American Community Survey (ACS), and geography. Additionally, the brief categorizes counties based on three types of rurality and highlights the availability of ACS estimates.
Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
