Category: Rural Areas

Welcome to Hochatown, the Town Created by Airbnb

In a rural corner of Oklahoma, rustic cabins have been replaced by $1 million rental homes. But even as Airbnb reports record profits, the boom has softened. What will that mean for hosts?
Biden to Travel to Minnesota to Highlight Rural Investments

The president’s push to focus attention on the domestic economy comes as his administration has been dealing with events overseas after the terrorist attacks in Israel.
Green Energy Casts a Shadow Over a Cherished English Landscape

Residents of East Anglia fear that planned power lines for offshore wind projects will blight their rural idyll.
Billions to Connect Everyone to High-Speed Internet Could Still Fall Short

President Biden has promised to provide every American access to reliable high-speed internet. But some have raised concerns about whether the funds will achieve all of the administration’s goals.
Where Tech Investors Are Buying Up Land, Locals Are Worried

In Solano County, Calif., longtime residents are both worried and baffled by an ambitious plan to build a city where there is now mostly farmland.
Looking to Trade a Cat for a Burial Plot? Tune In to Tradio.

Instead of using Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, some people in rural America call their local radio stations to buy, sell and barter goods.
88 Temples, 750 Miles, Untold Gifts: Japan’s Shikoku Pilgrimage

A famed route on the smallest of Japan’s four main islands offers breathtaking views and an array of lessons on history, culture and generosity.
Will a Dollar General Ruin a Rural Crossroads?

A fight over a proposed chain store is also about what “country” means to different people in a small community.
An Oklahoma Town’s Rescue Plan Has a Big Name: Reba McEntire

The New York Times – Music:
The country-music star is trying to revive her childhood home in Oklahoma with a restaurant, concert stage and lots of Reba memorabilia.
Colleges Have Been a Small-Town Lifeline. What Happens as They Shrink?

The New York Times – Business:
Declining student enrollment is hitting the rural areas that rely on universities. They’re trying to adapt to survive.
Rural Hospitals Are Shuttering Their Maternity Units

The New York Times – Business:
Citing costs, many hospitals are closing labor and delivery wards, expanding so-called maternity care deserts.
Stag and Doe Parties: An Ontario Tradition of Raising Money for a Wedding

The New York Times – Fashion & Style:
“Stag and does” are a largely rural Ontario tradition that help engaged couples raise money for their nuptials — and give neighbors a good reason to party.