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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural definitions

Rurality Matters
An overview of a Census Bureau identification of counties as mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural, based on 2010 Census data. Includes charts showing selected statistics by rurality for adults and children, using 2011-2015 American Community Survey data.
Author(s): Kelly Ann Holder, Alison Fields, Daphne Lofquist
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Defining Rural at the U.S. Census Bureau
An overview of how the Census Bureau has defined rural in the past, the current way urban/rural areas are identified by the Census, and the relationship between decennial censuses, the American Community Survey (ACS), and geography.
Author(s): Michael Ratcliffe, Charlynn Burd, Kelly Holder, Alison Fields
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Definition of Frontier
Policy paper discussing the various definitions of frontier and the methodologies for determining the different definitions. Offers support to state and federal programs in their selection of the most appropriate definition to attain their program goals.
Author(s): Susan Wilger
Date: 02/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Rhode Island: Key Determinants of Rural Health
An assessment and review of the health needs, behaviors, and status of rural populations in Rhode Island. Identifies places of need and recognizes the challenges prevalent in rural areas. Can be used as a tool to develop strategies and allocate resources targeted to underserved areas of the state.
Author(s): Katelyn Edel
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rhode Island Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
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Rationalizing Rural Area Classifications for the Economic Research Service: A Workshop Summary
Summarizes an April 2015 workshop that explored the data, estimation, and policy issues related to rural classifications currently in use by the Economic Research Service (ERS): Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs), Urban Influence Codes (UICs), Rural Urban Community Area (RUCA) codes, and Frontier and Remote (FAR) codes.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on National Statistics
Date: 2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Micropolitan America: A New and Critical Part of the Nation's Geography
Provides an overview of the micropolitan designation, highlighting important features and demographics. Also presents a preliminary agenda for future research and seeks to engage others in a national initiative that will further the understanding of micropolitan areas.
Author(s): Sam M. Cordes, J. Matthew Fannin
Date: 11/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Federally Designated Rural Areas in Maryland
Shows the locations of federally designated rural areas in Maryland.
Date: 10/2015
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Department of Health
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Broadband Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities in Rural America
Slides presented at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rural Broadband Workshop in March of 2014 describing the characteristics, demographics, opportunities, and challenges affecting rural America's broadband needs.
Author(s): Chuck Fluharty
Date: 03/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
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Rural Pennsylvania: Where Is It Anyway?
A discussion of the many rural definitions used for the administration of public programming and research in regard to Pennsylvania. Includes county level maps for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Metropolitan-Non-Metropolitan; U.S. Census Bureau; RUCA Codes; and Center for Rural Pennsylvania county, municipality, and school district definitions.
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
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Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) 2010 Census Tracts - Minnesota
Identifies county-level data in Minnesota by one of the 4 Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) categories: urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated.
Date: 01/2014
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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