State Agency Explains What it Means to be 'Rural' In Pennsylvania

There is no one definition of rural. At the federal level, there are no fewer than seven definitions of rural and urban. Each definition is accurate, but each measures different aspects of rural and urban. Most federal definitions begin by defining what is urban; everything else is then considered rural.

What are some of the common federal definitions of rural?

The two most commonly used federal definitions are from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Census Bureau. 0MB's definition defines Core Base Statistical Areas as cities and counties that are comprised of Metropolitan...