Join the Movement
Menu

What is Frontier?

The Real Frontier

Throughout our history, the concept has sparked imaginations and invoked notions of a dynamic way of life. While this can sometimes be true, the frontier also reflects racial and geographic inequity in America.

Fifty-six percent of America is considered to be frontier, with over 12 million people living in remote areas. Despite differences, these communities share issues common to sparse populations that are chronically underserved by traditional public policy frameworks.

NCFC works to drive better-informed public and economic policy that recognizes frontier variations so these communities can thrive. This means clear paths to federal and state funding and programs, equitable resource distribution, infrastructure, and effective regional and community non-profit organizations.

Image 9-26-24 at 11.39 AM

The map shows US zip codes classified as FAR level one.  USDA’s “Frontier and Remote” definition of frontier communities. 

Definitions

American frontier lands are remote, and often historically indigenous. They are rural and agricultural. They are towns built around mining and other natural resources. They include reservations, trusts, and other federally controlled areas managed by the forest service, military, national parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies.

It’s critical that policymakers, governments, and organizations share a baseline definition. Today there isn’t one inclusive and complete definition – though NCFC is driving ongoing efforts to create one at a federal level.

NCFC Composite Designation of Frontier Counties

A three-variable matrix of population density, travel time, and distance to market/service centers is used to describe frontier communities to address creation and maintenance of basic infrastructure and services. These variables determine day-to-day access to food, utilities, and provisions, as well as medical and emergency support.

  • Density: Between 12 and 20 persons per square mile
  • Distance to a service/market: Between 30 and 90 miles
  • Travel time to service/market: Between 30 and 90 minutes

Additional definitions, such as the USDA’s Frontier & Remote (FAR) designation and Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs), can be used to identify frontier and remote areas.

Challenges

Rural and sparsely populated communities are more likely to lose population, be persistently poor, and have an unskilled labor force with limited education. Migration in and out results in new patterns, demographics, and changing community needs. Inconsistent policy and economic development compound the challenges these communities face.

Key Issues Facing Rural Communities:

  • Food insecurity
  • Little to no new economic development and healthcare access initiatives
  • Lack of reliable, high-speed essential communication technologies
  • Immediate and long-term impact of public health events (e.g., COVID-19)
  • Disproportionately high levels of suicide
  • Climate change threats for arid and semi-arid areas, freshwater resource issues
  • Mass outmigration of youth leaving behind older, chronically poor people
  • Insufficient Community Wellness support programs
  • Lack of philanthropic interest
  • Longstanding federal and state disinvestment and underinvestment
  • Growing economic inequality and gentrification in amenity-rich areas

Solutions

NCFC delivers an array of innovative, frontier informed solutions to tackle myriad challenges of remote living.  From on the ground programming designed to deploy critical interventions, to advocacy and research.

Frontier Food Systems support from seed to plate to help frontier communities and nonprofits expand their local food economies

Food Systems

Frontier Food Systems support from seed to plate to help frontier communities and nonprofits expand their local food economies
NCFC’s Community Wellness Programs take a long-term, strategic approach to bolstering the social determinants of health in frontier regions.

Community Wellness

NCFC’s Community Wellness Programs take a long-term, strategic approach to bolstering the social determinants of health in frontier regions.
Building better national, state and regional policy for the frontier through active engagement with legislative and government leaders.

Advocacy

Building better national, state and regional policy for the frontier through active engagement with legislative and government leaders.
Helping organizations improve outcomes and make real impact with support, advice, resources and frameworks.

Frontier Forward

Helping organizations improve outcomes and make real impact with support, advice, resources and frameworks.

Resource Library

Understanding the Frontier

Understanding what the frontier is—and what it means to live in, run a business, and raise a family in these communities—is important not only to residents but also to nonprofit organizations, legislative and public policy groups, and the media that cover rural and remote areas.

We provide an extensive library of resources that helps shape frontier issues and opportunities. These materials offer valuable insights into the unique challenges of frontier locations, as well as the available services, support, special funding, and information tailored to these communities.

Featured Resources

frontier Forward01
,
2002-2003 Frontier Education Center Annual Report

Empowering remote communities with tools and guidance for sustainable growth and resilience. (Content Section)

Download