Defining ‘Rural’

North Dakota State Representative Jared Hagert spoke about government investments in rural communities at the Rural Prosperity field hearing. Hagert said these aren’t partisan issues. “Even in North Dakota, it’s hugely different how you define rural,” said Hagert. “Think about the Rural Health Transformation Committee that’s just been meeting to decide how to allocate dollars; the whole state is considered rural, but if you look at Census data and how they define it, it’s not.” Going forward, Hagert said there needs to be a better understanding of what is and isn’t rural.