Are rural and urban communities more divided or connected? Researchers who crunch numbers and look at economic forces see critical connections between urban and rural fates. They are shared and interdependent.
Rural and urban communities depend on each other to grow their economies and establish commerce. They exchange information, goods, materials, and services. Both must educate future workers and build a thriving workforce. And together, they can provide recreation and culture that attract the world while making life more enjoyable for people who live in Minnesota.
Urban areas rely on rural areas for food production and water supply, raw materials, labor, and recreation and nature. Rural areas, on the other hand, increasingly rely on urbanized areas for jobs, technology, health care, amenities, and entertainment. Urban America’s prosperity is intertwined with rural America.
“Eleanor Roosevelt remarked about rural and urban America, that ‘what happens in your part of the country, happens in mine.’ The same is true today. Only focusing on ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ as separate and divided entities tells an incomplete story and limits our ability to create solutions that move us forward.”
— Ellen Wolter, Extension educator
Living side by side
What does it mean for rural and urban communities to live side by side? In the Side by Side podcast, Extension explores the interdependent relationship between rural and urban spaces. The podcast is hosted by Extension Educator Ellen Wolter, whose research interests focus on rural-urban interdependence.
Why does this necessary and complex relationship matter? Listen to recent episodes below.
Related content
Find Extension articles, research, and other media relating to the rural-urban connection.
Better together: shared interdependence connects rural and urban communities
Ellen Wolter wanted to start a new kind of conversation — one that shows rural and urban areas are connected and dependent on each other.
How to shift rural-urban discussion toward an appreciation for interdependence
How can rural and urban communities work together? Learn about their similarities and building networks across boundaries.
Urban vs. rural? More like urban and rural together, study says
What would happen to the state's economy if rural Minnesota went away? Would the Twin Cities area notice?
Learn with Extension
Interested in learning about upcoming events and resources? Sign up for email updates about rural-urban interdependence and the Side by Side podcast.
Featured resources
These resources were mentioned in podcast episodes of Side by Side.
- Minnesota's future: Urban and rural Minnesota need each other more than ever (Star Tribune), an editorial article by Tuleah Palmer.
- Minnesota's future: Rugged togetherness has always been state's secret (Star Tribune), an editorial article by R.T. Rybak.
More resources
- Braver Angels are helping to bridge the partisan and political divide.
- Urban Rural Action is building relationships across divisions by solving problems together.
- Minnesota Rural-Urban Exchange is helping to grow social capital and cultivate relationships across divisions.
- Bridging the Divide Conference convened by Institute of Politics and focused on bridging communities.
- Transforming Narratives panel discussion with Sarah Smarsh and Rhymefest at the conference
- Heidi Heitkamp, Institute of Politics has a seminar series for healing regional divides.
- Interconnected: Rural-Urban Conversation Series is hosted by Center for Rural Policy and Development and Citizens League.
- National Day of Dialogue, held annually on January 5, uses dialogue to break down division and polarization nationally.
- Nick Jacobs, co-author of The Rural Voter
- Commentary — New book on rural America started with a false conclusion, then looked for evidence (The Daily Yonder)
Reviewed in 2025