Overview
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Most counties, whether metropolitan or nonmetropolitan, contain
a combination of urban and rural populations. According to official
U.S. Census Bureau definitions, rural areas comprise open country
and settlements with fewer than 2,500 residents.
ERS has developed several classifications to measure rurality
and assess the economic and social diversity of rural America.
These classification schemes have been used to determine
eligibility for Federal programs that assist rural areas. They
include the: