Rural communities

More than half of rural counties are legal deserts, ISU study finds
A new study of legal deserts by Iowa State rural sociologist David Peters and two undergraduate researchers found more than half of the 2,307 rural counties in the contiguous U.S. have an insufficient number of practicing private attorneys. Read More

June 25, 2025
Dr. Ryanne Pilgeram is guest speaker for the 2024 George M. Beal Lectureship in Rural Sociology

October 1, 2024
Samuel Mindes’ research project receives university funding
Assistant Adjunct Professor Samuel Mindes is part of a research project selected to receive funding from Iowa State's Office of the President. Read More

June 18, 2024
Beal Lecture focuses on the health of America’s rural population
Population health expert Shannon Monnat discussed why rural mortality rates are increasing at the 2023 Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural Sociology on Oct. 30. Read More

November 17, 2023
Small town poll to focus on rural Iowa’s growing diversity
The latest Iowa State poll that surveys rural Iowans about quality-of-life issues will focus on a rapidly growing segment of Iowa’s small towns. Read More

September 20, 2023
Katie Dentzman—Studying what influences students to return to family farm

May 3, 2023
Inflation’s ongoing impact evened out in 2022
Professor of Sociology David Peters says inflation hit rural households harder earlier in 2022, but its effects were similar in rural and urban areas by year's end. Read More

March 23, 2023
Understanding what makes senior towns in Iowa ‘smart’
David Peters and Ilona Matysiak are studying how some Iowa towns support their aging residents, offering them a high quality of life. Read More

March 7, 2023
Research for the greater good
Senior Natalia Rios Martinez is breaking new ground in the study of rural legal deserts. Read More

December 5, 2022
Survey highlights pandemic’s effect on mental and physical health in rural Iowa
Professor of Sociology David Peters asked thousands of rural Iowans to gauge how the pandemic has impacted their physical and mental health. Learn what he and his research team discovered. Read More

October 12, 2021