Photo Gallery: Focusing on Rural Livability

Travel through a snapshot sampling of America's small town, rural and remote communities

With offices, chapters and volunteers in every state — as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — AARP is present in local communities nationwide.

Read "Focusing on Rural Livability" to learn about the rural communities focus group discussion hosted by AARP

Find more rural communities content and resources at AARP.org/Rural Livability

Scroll through the photo gallery below for a snapshot sampling of America's small town, rural and remote communities

Tractor Crossing

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Rural roadways tend to be fast-moving — unless a tractor is traveling the same route.

Gallatin Valley Land Trust

PHOTO BY Krista Burdick, LOR Foundation

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust has collaborated with the city of Bozeman, Montana, and dozens of public and private organizations to expand the "Main Street to the Mountains" system to more than 80 miles of trails. These trails are used by commuters, runners, bikers, birdwatchers and stargazers.

Downtown Missoula

PHOTO BY Brian Stanton

Downtown Missoula, Montana, during a cold but relatively snowless February day.

Tiny Talkeetna

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Remote, tiny (population 876) Talkeetna, Alaska, has a train station and walkable, quirky downtown.

Community Radio

PHOTO BY KTWH-FM Community Radio

KTWH 99.5 FM was created by and for residents of Two Harbors, Minnesota — population 3,700 — and is largely staffed by volunteers. (Learn More)

Senior Center

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Tolani Lake is part of the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. The closest shopping is an hour away. The nearest hospital and physician offices are even farther.

Rural Illinois

PHOTO BY Glenn Bookbinder

In rural regions, such as this one in Illinois, residents can be isolated and far from services despite living on a main roadway.

Library in Lincoln

PHOTO BY Brian Stanton

The library in Lincoln, Montana, has limited hours, opening for just three to five hours a day and closed on Saturdays.

Turbines

PHOTO BY Glenn Bookbinder

Turbines, such as these two in Iowa, turn open fields into wind farms.

A "Pop-Up" Demonstration

PHOTO BY Team Better Block

A downtown-wide, AARP-sponsored "pop-up" demonstration in Bethel, Vermont, reenergized a community in need of a boost. (Learn More)

Duck of Justice

PHOTO BY Bangor Police Department

The Facebook account of Bangor, Maine's police department is so popular that locals, tourists and celebrities show up to pose with the force's mascot, the "Duck of Justice" — or DOJ. (Learn More)

Telework Opportunities

Two women sit at a picnic table in Eastport, Maine, with a view of the water and a Little Free Library display

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Remote Eastport, Maine — population 1,300 — hopes to attract new residents by encouraging teleworkers to telework from their broadband equipped community. (Learn More)

Gathering Spots

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Yountville, California, is a small, thriving Napa Valley town with fine accomodations, fine wine and very fine dining. Its community center encourages gathering both inside the building and outside on the plaza, which features living room-like furniture and two pianos.

Gallup, New Mexico

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

As is true of many commerical roadways, a car is a must for being able to travel along or simply get across Route 491 in Gallup, New Mexico.

Only a Ranch

PHOTO BY Brian Stanton

A highway sign in Montana makes clear that there's a ranch and nothing more at the end of the exit.

Golden Shovel Award

PHOTO BY Charles Eichacker

Bucksport, Maine's Golden Shovel Award is given to the business that does the best job of keeping its sidewalks free of snow. Much like Miss America's tiara, the glistening snow shovel is a prized award that's handed down to each year's winner. (Learn More)

Davidsonville, Maryland

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Rural areas aren't always distant places. Davidsonville, Maryland, isn't walkable, but it is commutable to Baltimore, Annapolis and downtown Washington, D.C.

Indian Range

PHOTO BY Melissa Stanton, AARP

Built in 1850, the Maryland-based Indian Range (that's this house's name), is on the National Register of Historic Places. Now a single-family home, the house and its 6-acre property take a lot of money and effort to maintain.