As a non-American, I’m very confused by this. If it’s a town, it’s not rural by definition. Because, you-know, it’s urban.

Also, could we get a definition of town vs small town. Do you not have the concept of a village? (Village in the UK would be a settlement with a population of a couple of thousand, with usually a pub, local shop, maybe a post office and primary school if you’re lucky).

  • XeroxCool@lemmy.world
    5·
    1 day ago

    (edit: I was unaware of how prevalent legal village usage is in NY, but here’s my original comment)
    I don’t think anyone really uses the term “village” in the NE unless it already exists as the specific name of the municipality or neighborhood (or they’re being cheeky). Maybe I’m too far into the metro-area suburbs, but not one village I know would classify as a village by OP’s definition. I don’t think Americans believe they have villages because they picture 3rd world huts, medieval towns, or eastern European towns with dirt roads.

    • halowpeano@lemmy.world
      5·
      2 days ago

      I don’t know about other states, but in upstate New York a village is a legal entity that is a defined area within a town. A town is a subdivision of a county.

      In other states, I think they don’t fully subdivide counties. So every person in one of those states either lives in an unincorporated part of a county, or a town/city. Those who live unincorporated are only governed by the county, while those in towns/cities are governed by both town and county.

      So in New York there are no unincorporated parts of counties. Everyone lives in a town, which is part of a county. Some people may also live in villages, which are areas in towns.

      Edit: for example, the village of Seneca Falls is in the town of Seneca Falls, which is in the county of Romulus.

      • XeroxCool@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 day ago

        Alright, I’m fascinated. Ironically, all the villages I know are in NY, but more so NYC/Long Island and the immediate area. I don’t read many signs north of there because the trees look too damn pretty when I visit. I assumed they were legacy names but I’m probably standing corrected

    • leadore@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 days ago

      I only know about the existence of villages in NY state because my brother lives in one and had to explain to me what constitutes a village vs. a town–I still don’t really get it! - which is why I said the term may have a more specific definition. So yeah, it may not be a commonly used or understood term even in the NE. In any case, I’m sure it’s used differently here than in the UK, like many things.