Defining Rural: Advancing a Place-Based Rural Criteria Matrix

Danika Hammond, Diogo Lösch de Oliveira · 2023 · Rural Review Ontario Rural Planning Development and Policy

Summary. Rural areas defy simple definition. This paper examines how policymakers currently define rural using population density and remoteness, then proposes a new Rural Criteria Matrix that captures the diversity of rural communities through multiple measures. Using British Columbia as a case study, the authors argue for place-based definitions that move beyond binary rural-urban distinctions, support reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and recognize the heterogeneity within rural regions.

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@article{hammond-2023-defining-rural-advancing-place-based,
  title   = {Defining Rural: Advancing a Place-Based Rural Criteria Matrix},
  author  = {Danika Hammond and Diogo Lösch de Oliveira},
  journal = {Rural Review Ontario Rural Planning Development and Policy},
  year    = {2023},
  doi     = {10.21083/ruralreview.v7i1.7378},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.21083/ruralreview.v7i1.7378}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Defining Rural: Advancing a Place-Based Rural Criteria Matrix
AU  - Danika Hammond
AU  - Diogo Lösch de Oliveira
JO  - Rural Review Ontario Rural Planning Development and Policy
PY  - 2023
DO  - 10.21083/ruralreview.v7i1.7378
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21083/ruralreview.v7i1.7378
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.21083/ruralreview.v7i1.7378

Countries

Canada

Regions

North America

Categories

rural-data-and-definitions, policy, general-innovation

Added

2026-06-01