The Value of Rural Communities

Written By: Mary Ellen Row  |  Posted: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

            Early September brought a torrent of rain to areas of Midwestern Wisconsin. With reports of over 8 inches of rain in less than 24 hours, it was no wonder the places where water naturally congregates had overflowed. In my home town, I went to see the flood damage and was in awe as Lake Martha was spilling onto the streets of Osseo. What amazed me more than this natural disaster was the number of communities that came together to prevent further flooding and protect the homes and buildings that were in harm's way. Various neighbors, town residents, volunteer fire departments, and the local football team all worked together to bag sand and stack them across vulnerable banks. A lot of these folks could have chosen to stay home and enjoy their Labor Day with family. Those who were not affected could have reasoned that it was not their issue and left it to the local teams of government. Yet, they dropped their plans and helped those in need by donating their time and resources. 

   In light of this recent debacle, one could inappropriately praise the local effort. Yet, if you consider the cultural differences between people who live in the rural towns and the massive cities, it makes the value of small towns apparent. In close-knit communities, people rely on their neighbors for anything from 'borrowing' an egg or cup of sugar to helping fight a fire or flood in the middle of the night. In a megalopolis, however, there is little to no trust in the next door neighbor. It's a paradox that I'll never understand. People want connection with their fellow man in some way or another so one would think that more people in one place would increase relations. However, as the number of neighbors go up, so do the number of home security features while communication decreases. In a rural community, people are at ease with their neighbors, and they rely on each other for many things. In largely populated areas, 911 is a person's best friend. Cities seem to create the opposite effect humanity so desperately desires.

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