The Census Bureau defines rural as any population, housing, or territory not in an urban area.
Rural America tends to be viewed as a monolith of farm land, pick-up trucks and sparsely populated small towns.
In recent years the loss of population, hospitals and banks has some believing rural America is in decline.
However, Miami University of Ohio history professor Steven Conn challenges the idea of a rural America in crisis.
He says the challenges faced by rural America are the same challenges facing cities and suburbs.
We discuss the current state of rural America.
Host:
- Mike Thompson, WOSU chief content director of radio
Guest:
- Steven Conn, Miami University of Ohio history professor/author of The Lies of the Land: Seeing Rural America for What It Is and Isn’t
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