Oregon State University Rural Studies Program
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About the Rural Communities Explorer
About the Rural Communities Explorer

The Rural Communities Explorer digital library provides public access to reliable and up-to-date social, demographic, economic, and environmental information about Oregon’s rural counties and communities. 

Through the regular collection, maintenance, analysis, and presentation of community-level data, rural research, and local stories, the Rural Communities Explorer can reveal:

  • The economy, environment, and demography of rural and urban communities in Oregon
  • The extent of rural community vitality in Oregon
  • Focus areas for policy or program influence and action
  • The causes, consequences, and significance of rural issues
  • How communities work and change
  • Where additional rural resources are and how to use them

Featured Tools:

The Rural Communities Explorer was developed for use by rural leaders, philanthropies, program practitioners, public officials, and residents.

The site was made public in October of 2008.

URL: www.oregonexplorer.info/rural

Primary contact for the site:  Lena Etuk, Social Demographer, Extension Family and Community Development Program

Lena.etuk@oregonstate.edu 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Development of the Rural Communities Explorer has been a collaboration among:

Oregon State University (OSU) Rural Studies Program and OSU Extension
Lena Etuk, Bruce Weber, Mindy Crandall, Kevin Drost

The OSU Rural Studies Program works with rural communities to improve environmental, economic, social and cultural well-being.  The OSU Extension Service engages the people of Oregon with research-based knowledge and education that focus on strengthening communities and economies, sustaining natural resources, and promoting healthy families and individuals.

OSU Libraries
Marc Rempel, Janine Salwasser, Laurie Bridges, Ruth Vondracek, Karyle Butcher, Tim Fiez

OSU Libraries (OSUL) engages with the OSU community and the people of Oregon in their pursuit of knowledge. The OSUL partnership with the OUS Institute for Natural Resources supports delivery of information and services related to the protection and management of Oregon’s vitally important natural resources through the Oregon Explorer natural resources digital library (www.oregonexplorer.info).

Oregon University System’s Institute for Natural Resources
Kuuipo Walsh

The Institute for Natural Resources provides Oregonians with ready access to current, relevant science-based information, methods, and tools for better understanding natural resource management challenges and developing solutions.  INR co-manages the Oregon Explorer with OSUL.

The Ford Family Foundation
Ford Institute for Community Building

The Ford Family Foundation manages large, internal initiatives and makes grants to public charities predominantly benefiting communities in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Ford Institute for Community Building is dedicated to empowering the citizens and the organizations in the community that must collaborate for the community to be vital in a changing world.

Funding for the Rural Communities Explorer development was provided by The Ford Family Foundation, OSU Libraries, and OSU Extension Service.

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Banner Photo Credit

Downtown Jacksonville: David A. Gibb, David Gibb Photography, ©dgibbphoto.com.