As industrial cities transition into a post-industrial state, their demographics and socioeconomic characteristics transition as well. Their population sizes and densities are still considered urban, but are they truly as urban as a thriving central city? The literature identifies many characteristics beyond population size that could be used as rural indicators. There are clear distinctions between rural and urban economic development, so it is imperative that there is a clear understanding of where a community fits on a rural-urban spectrum, to create effective redevelopment policy. There is limited research on urban placement along a rural-urban continuum in the absence of spatial association. Using place level data, I study the differences between population ranges across select rural indicators and apply the findings to Detroit, Michigan on the Census tract level, a city that has shrunk to half its peak size and has faced extreme financial difficulties while transitioning into the post-industrial state. Significant differences were found between population sizes based on several rural indicators. It was also found that based on these rural indicators, Detroit's population increasingly resembles that of a rural community. These findings support the theory that traditionally rural economic development policies may have positive effects in Detroit.
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