The twentieth century was one of profound transformation in rural America. Demographic shifts and economic restructuring have conspired to alter dramatically the lives of rural people and their communities. Challenges for Rural America in the 21st Century defines these changes and interprets their implications for the future of rural America. The volume follows in the tradition of "decennial volumes" co-edited by presidents of the Rural Sociological Society and published in the Society's Rural Studies Series. Essays have been specially commissioned to examine key aspects of public policy relevant to rural America in the new century. The following sections provide the structure: - Who Lives in Rural America Today? - A Transformed Rural Economy - The Rural Community: Is It Local? Is It a Community? - People and the Environment: Tough Trade-offs in an Era with Vanishing Buffers - Changing National and International Policies: New Uncertainties and New Challenges - Challenges Become Opportunities: Trends and Policies Shaping the Future