The pitting of cities and rural communities against one another is the wrong approach. Instead, policies that help cities thrive will benefit rural areas in the long run.
Nathan Arnosti and Amy Liu take a closer look at the relationship between urban and rural areas. They argue for a move beyond the idea of the urban-rural divide, a concept supporting the notion that bolstering cities means that rural communities lose out.
"Rather than see rural America as existing in isolation from urban centers, or characterize the two sets of communities as locked in a zero-sum game for economic growth, we should recognize that rural America’s economic success is linked with that of America’s cities," write Arnosti and Liu.
The well-being of rural areas is influenced by cities in several ways, they say. Rural areas benefit when cities provide more state revenue than they use, and states with large urban populations are less dependent on federal investments. In addition, cities provide rural communities and residents with access to economic, labor, and educational opportunities.
Arnosti and Liu say that strengthening the links between urban and rural areas is important. "In fact, one of the best ways to help rural America may involve helping cities: supporting a distributed network of economically vibrant small and mid-sized cities across the United States."
They advocate for economic planning at the local level—with a focus on industry clustering rather than efforts to attract particular large companies. In addition, they encourage policies that will reduce the economic gaps between urban and rural areas, including educational and training programs that prepare workers for the modern economy.
FULL STORY: Why rural America needs cities
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.