This piece applies urbanist principles to America’s rural communities to show how many of the mistakes that plague our cities were also replicated in the countryside, describing how different population segments are harmed by these choices. It also explores, through a case study in Iowa, some opportunities for car-free and walkable lifestyles that can be generated from the distinct developmental histories and geographies that many small towns possess, taking advantage of the fact that many rural main streets were spared the urban “renewal” policies of midcentury. Overall, the article looks for ways to diversify the kinds of lives rural people can lead that accommodate rural America’s distinct geographic and financial challenges.