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'Rural' areas (also referred to as "the country", 'countryside') are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities. Such areas are distinct from more intensively settled urban and suburban areas, and also from unsettled lands such as outback, American Old West or wilderness. Inhabitants live in villages, hamlets, on farms and in other isolated houses.
In modern usage, rural areas can have an agricultural character, though many rural areas are characterized by an economy based on logging, mining, petroleum and natural gas exploration, or tourism.
Lifestyles in rural areas are different from those in urban areas, mainly because limited services, especially public services are available. Governmental services like police, schools, fire stations, and libraries are generally available, but may be limited in scope, or unavailable in remote communities. Utilities like water, sewerage, street lighting, and public waste management are generally present in the larger settlements. Public transport is limited or absent. People usually use their own vehicles. But if this is impractical they may walk or ride an animal such as a horse, donkey, or camel depending on where they live.

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See also

External links

See also

★ American Old West

★ Broadband

★ Country house

★ Digital divide

★ Folk culture

★ Landed gentry

★ Outback

★ Peasantry

★ Redneck

★ Rural Community Council

★ Rural crafts

★ Rural health

External links

★ Rural America

★ Center for Rural Affairs

★ National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative