Some value rural areas for what they are, others for what rural areas are not, and still others for what they believe rural areas are or are not. Since values are at the heart of policymaking, it is important to understand how we value rural America. The Value of Rural Life in American Culture. The image that people have had of rural areas is one largely fashioned by the residents of cities, who have seen the countryside as the often welcome antithesis of urban life. Rural life is no longer the predominant one in America, but its influence is still seen in city parks, suburban yards, and the recreational activities of urban people.
Rural values provide stability against the rapid change of modern life.
People's intense experiences with the land have enhanced the cultural value of rural areas. Cultural conservation holds an important place in rural policy because it reinforces the sensory experience of the rural landscape and strengthens landscape's role as a symbol of stability. Why Americans Value Rural Life. Rural America has traditionally been valued in our society less because of what it is than because of what it is not. The Founders valued rurality because it set us apart from England, giving us a separate identity.