There have been rural frum communities in the US for hundreds of years. It’s estimated that 4% of the frum in America live rurally. There are small frum Jewish communities in the heart of Appalachia, AZ and all across the west and here in the PNW where I live. I think that it’s a rather unsuitable lifestyle for folks from the known Jewniverse of NY and NJ. who are used to walking around the corner to a shop to buy your kosher chicken, most of these communities live more than a convenient drive from a Walmart or Trader Joes. And listen to the women on Imamother complaining because their kids are home all day because of C19. Home schooling isn’t an alien concept in rural America regardless of your faith. And of course there are the wandering rabbi’s of Chabad who visit once or twice a year and the wandering shochet serving those Jews who raise their own animals for food.
My late husband and I received wise counsel from our rabbi when we were considering our move to the rural PNW and we were able to network with other Jews who lived rurally on how to solve some of the unique problems of Jews living rurally. As technology advanced and the internet became more available to rural areas, many issues of supply and demand were solved. The only time I resented driving an over 30 mile trip to work over mtns was during ice storms.
With my husband gone I downsized and moved closer to town onto what would be described as a rural residential property on the far edge of town. It, for me, is infinitely nicer than in town, with few close neighbors, less noise and traffic. It’s also less than a 30 mile drive to a grocery store which is even better.