Story Highlights
- Most rural Americans feel connected to their communities
- 42% of rural Americans who perceive high community cohesion are motivated to lead
- Fewer barriers to leading reported when perception of cohesion is strong
WASHINGTON, D.C. — About three in four rural Americans agree they can positively impact their communities. When rural Americans experience high levels of connection and cooperation in their communities — community cohesion — that figure rises to 97%, more than double the rate (42%) among those who report low levels of community cohesion. Strong community cohesion is also linked to greater community involvement and motivation to take on leadership roles in the community.
These findings come from new research conducted by Gallup and the LOR Foundation that explores what motivates rural Americans to step forward and lead projects that benefit their communities — and what stands in their way.
Community Cohesion Linked to Involvement and Action
Community cohesion refers to the strength of relationships and solidarity among community members. In everyday life, it’s about community members having a sense of trust and belonging and believing that neighbors will show up for one another.
This study asked rural Americans how they experience their communities across seven different dimensions of cohesion, including feelings of support and connection and openness to diverse perspectives. Based on their answers, rural Americans were grouped into three categories: low (20%), moderate (63%) or high (17%) sense of community cohesion.
Overall, most rural Americans report strong feelings of support (82%) and pride (81%) in their communities. About two-thirds also feel emotionally connected (68%), able to collaborate with others (67%), free to express their opinions (65%) and valued (65%).
When rural Americans feel high levels of community cohesion, they are significantly more likely to say that they can personally make a positive impact in their local communities and have ideas for how to do so.
In rural areas, strong community cohesion fosters greater participation and leadership. Participation in local volunteer projects among rural Americans is more than three times higher when feelings of cohesion are high (49%) than when they are low (15%). Leadership of these projects rises significantly, from only 1% among those feeling low cohesion to 9% among those feeling strong cohesion.
This pattern is evident not only in traditional forms of community engagement — such as local government and nonprofit organizations — but also in broader activities like involvement in schools, clubs and interest-based groups, suggesting that strengthening community bonds in rural areas could be a powerful way to boost engagement and grow leadership throughout communities.
Tapping Into Community Leadership in Rural Communities
New findings from this research reveal an important relationship between how connected rural Americans feel to their communities and their interest in leading projects that improve them.
Forty-two percent who feel high cohesion report being somewhat or very motivated to lead locally, over twice the rate of motivation among those feeling moderate cohesion (19%) and three times the rate among those feeling low cohesion (12%). Likewise, among those who feel high levels of community cohesion, 17% already lead local efforts and 11% plan to within a year, surpassing leadership and intentions among those feeling low to moderate levels of cohesion.
Rural residents who feel strong cohesion are also less likely to report barriers to leadership, with fewer expressing challenges in finding social support, mentorship and guidance, and even financial resources. They are also half as likely to say they don’t know how to get started.
Implications
These new findings from the LOR Foundation and Gallup highlight a powerful insight: When rural communities foster connection, pride and shared identity — community cohesion — they can unlock the potential for local residents to lead. Whether organizing a community event, launching a local initiative or spearheading a volunteer effort, residents who perceive their communities as highly cohesive are significantly more likely to step forward and take action.
This research underscores the importance of investing in the social networks of rural areas. By creating spaces to collaborate and share ideas, communities can tap into the energy and commitment of their residents, turning local challenges into opportunities for grassroots leadership and meaningful change.
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