Sentence:  Although the Brandywine population <WSD>is</WSD> still predominantly rural , `` there are indications of a consistent and a statistically significant trend away from the older and relatively isolated rural communities & & & urbanization appears to be an important factor in the disintegration of this group . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)