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The US has 3,141 counties, and they are divided into three groups based on population density and links to urban areas. Metropolitan Statistical Areas are those with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more, plus adjacent counties with a high degree of socio-economic integration as measured by commuting ties. Micropolitan Statistical Areas have at least one urban cluster of 10,000 or more, but less than 50,000 residents; they also include adjacent counties with a high degree of socio-economic integration. Other areas are rural.

The OMB in February 2005 reported that the 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas included 1,090 counties and 83 percent of US residents, the 575 Micropolitan Statistical Areas included 692 counties and 10 percent of US residents, and the remaining 1,359 counties have seven percent of US residents. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy.html#ms)

Many of the counties outside Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas are losing population, raising questions about the viability of small towns in rural America. For example, Miner County, South Dakota has 3,000 residents, down from a peak 8,500, and recently launched organic beef and wind energy industries in an effort to prevent further population declines. Miner County is 65 miles northwest of Sioux Falls, a city of 125,000, and the county seat of Howard has 1,000 residents. Using foundation grants, tax credits and other subsidies, county leaders have stabilized the population, but only 25 percent of those who leave to get a college education return.

Older definitions of rural and urban used metro and nonmetro concepts, with nonmetro areas the residual, or persons outside metro areas. Adults in nonmetro areas have less education than adults in metro areas. According to the 2000 Census, 23 percent of nonmetro adults did not finish high school, compared with 19 percent of metro adults. By race and ethnicity, 52 percent of Hispanic adults in nonmetro areas did not finish high school in 2000, followed by 40 percent of Blacks and 20 percent of whites.

Jonathan Eig, " In Bid to Hang On, Miner County, S.D., Downsizes Dreams," Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2005.