Rural describes areas in the countryside, away from cities and towns. Rural places have farms, forests, and open land instead of crowded streets and tall buildings. If you live in a rural area, your nearest neighbor might be half a mile away, and you might see more cows than cars on your daily travels.

Rural communities often feel different from urban (city) or suburban (near-city) areas. In rural regions, people might drive long distances to reach a grocery store or school. Houses have big yards, and at night you can see thousands of stars without city lights blocking them. Many rural areas depend on agriculture: farming crops or raising livestock.

When people talk about rural America or rural life, they're describing the experience of living in these less populated places. Rural areas face unique challenges, like having fewer nearby services, but they also offer things cities can't, like wide-open spaces, close connections between neighbors, and direct contact with nature and food production.