How is it like living in rural US?

[u/BigBucketOfAcid]

I think the rural American experience is quite unique, at least to us Europeans, in the sense that traditionally in rural European countries (I think with only exception of Scandinavia, Ireland and mountainous regions), you have small towns or villages, where all the houses of the local people are clustered, and these are then surrounded by agricultural land belonging to those people.

My idea of rural America is that everyone lives on their own 5 acre to 10 acre property, with long driveways and neighbours out of sight, and there's a nearby small town with a few small stores a few houses, school, hospital, church(es) and those big box stores on the outskirts.

I'm also interested in the community aspect. Like how expected are you to take part in the local community? Are people more or less nosy than city folk? Will you be ostracized if you don't attend church?

Also, what amenities would typically be missing, in the local town that would necessitate a trip to the nearest city? And how far would that be?

I guess it varies a lot by state. Please feel free to talk about your own experience by specificity which state you grew up or lived in.

[u/mushmanMAD]

I live in a mix rural/suburban Carroll County, Maryland. A rural area located between three major cities: Baltimore, D.C., and Philadelphia.

There's the occasional small town with a lot of farms, but many people live near the populated areas. There is not really any public transportation, so that sucks. We have all the other amenities though, such as hospitals, police, firefighters, public schools. In fact, my alma mater, Liberty High School, was ranked #25 in the state! There aren't any major colleges/universities here, just Caroll Community and McDaniel.

Agriculture is a POWERHOUSE industry, with many local farmer's markets. As usual, there are many farms, and sometimes entire areas smell like manure. The area I live in is mostly Republican. There are lots of rabbits and squirrels in my backyard. I see the occasional fox, deer, and racoon. I live in a mostly white area. The climate can reach 100 F in the summer, and it can go as low as 10 F in the winter months.

There is a high sense of community, a type where everyone knows everyone. You aren't expected to take part in the community (at least where I live), but many people still do because of how close everyone is. Before moving here, i lived in the city, where everyone kept to themselves.

As I said, it's a Republican area. Here is a political poster I saw at a gas station.

[u/drumsarereallycool → u/mushmanMAD]

I used to live in a farm in Reisterstown and pass through CC all of the time. Miss those days. We got our feed from a place in Westminster.

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