"Context". The word pervades the literature on adult and continuing education. For adult education practitioners and researchers alike, understanding the beliefs and actions of their educational place continues to be of significant concern, and rightfully so. That adults wish to have their histories, experiences, and abilities appreciated and validated has become a basic tenet of their discipline, and a thorough analysis of the educational context appears to be the only way to make this appreciation and validation possible. In very broad terms, one aspect of context--the distribution of people in geographical space--has been broadly divided into two categories based primarily on population density. These classifications, urban and rural, have provided a convenient, if often debated, means for directing resources and categorizing populations for study and outreach. This article provides a brief overview of the term "rural" and discusses critical issues important to adult and continuing educators working with rural populations. These issues will continue to have a powerful impact on the work of adult and continuing educators in rural communities.