Does gentrification affect rural communities?
Theresa Singleton: Rural areas experience gentrification; however, it differs in important ways from the gentrification that occurs in urban communities. While urban gentrification typically affects a specific neighborhood, rural gentrification affects a whole town or county. Further, while urban gentrification typically involves issues of both race and class two issues that are often conflated in rural areas, gentrification is primarily an issue of class. Wealthy whites have migrated to amenity-rich rural enclaves to avail themselves of the natural beauty and resources these rural communities have to offer. In doing so, the influx of new people and new money changes the character of these areas and affects the native population in important ways. Many have referred to these changes as conflicts between cowboys and cappuccinos. HS: What role should Realtors, as civic leaders, take in reducing inter-group tensions when they arise? Joe Molinaro: Realtors help long-term residents in a pri
