[noobiemcfoob]

I'd like to see some data for that 80% urban population statement. Unless the definition of "dense suburbs" is outlandish, I can't see the percentage getting that high. Most studies I've seen put the US at a fair rural to urban split that up until very recently has always favored the rural population. It is only in the past 10 years that we've approached 50% urban to rural.

I know this to be true in North Carolina, and various readings about elsewhere make me believe it to be the case for the greater US.

[charles-salvia]

You're right - the 80% is exaggerated. I got it from https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/ua/urban-rural-2010.htm.... Their definition of "urban" is actually outlandish, in that it includes "urban clusters", which means towns that have > 2,500 and < 50,000 inhabitants. I assumed the 80% just included all the sprawling, dense suburbs, but I see the definition the census is using here is much looser.