Per capita income in rural America is still only 80 percent of the national average. But from 2009 to 2010, gains in rural counties were faster than the nation as a whole.

The workforce in rural America grew in the last year — there are more than 210,000 more workers available in rural and exurban counties. But the distribution of those new workers varies across the country.

Nearly three out of ten Americans live in a rural area or a small city. But in most states, the percentage of rural residents is far greater.

Before the Louisiana primary, Rick Santorum (and the national press) played up his strength among rural voters. Saturday, however, Santorum won in rural, urban and exurban parishes.