FAMILY BACKGROUNDS OF RURAL YOUTH ARE DISCUSSED. THE BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF RURAL YOUTH IN AN URBANIZED, HIGHLY TECHNICAL SOCIETY. THE BASIC ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF RURAL AREAS INFLUENCE THE RATE OF SOCIAL CHANGE, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY AS A SOCIAL UNIT, AND THE ORIENTATION TOWARD LEGAL REGULATIONS. RURAL FAMILIES TEND TO BE LOWER IN INCOME AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT THAN URBAN FAMILIES. IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE DISTINCTIONS AMONG RURAL FAMILIES TO BRING OUT IMPORTANT FAMILY BACKGROUND FACTORS OF RURAL YOUTH. DISTINCTIONS SHOULD BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF RESIDENCE, SOCIAL CLASS, AND RACE. COMMERCIAL FARM FAMILIES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN AGRICULTURE, LEVEL OF ASPIRATION IS HIGH AND EDUCATION IS VALUED. SUBSISTENCE FARM FAMILIES ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN AGRICULTURE, FOR THEY HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE BUSINESS ORIENTATION TO FARMING. LEVEL OF ASPIRATION IS LOW, EDUCATION IS NOT VALUED, AND DROPOUTS ARE COMMON. IN THE COMPUTER FAMILY, THE FATHER IS AWAY FROM THE HOME DURING MOST OF THE CHILDREN'S WAKING HOURS, SUCH HOMES TEND TO BE MOTHER-CENTERED AND MAY SOCIALIZE CHILDREN FOR LOWER MIDDLE CLASS POSITIONS. THE NONWHITE FAMILY IS AN OUTCAST FAMILY AMONG A WHITE MAJORITY. THE PRESSURES ON AND THE ISOLATION OF THESE OUTCAST PEOPLE OFTEN LEAD TO UNDERACHIEVEMENT AND FAILURE.