The purpose of this paper is to review recent trends in the rural and/or nonmetropolitan population and to indicate some of the linkages and implications for national population policy. The vast rural to urban migration of the last generation was necessary and rational, since most migrants believed they benefitted by moving. Although much of the movement was impelled by declining farm and mining employment, it also stemmed from comparatively high rural fertility and the resulting pressures on local job supply. Rural fertility hascontributed disproportionately to U.S. total population growth and requires more attention in family planning programs if national population limitation objectives are to be attained. (FF)