The past and historical future of the Partnership for Rural Improvement (PRI) and its model for rural planning and development are explored. Evolution of the rural-urban conceptual dichotomy is reviewed. Rural is perceived as a state of being rather than a place. Implications of the PRI experience for new knowledge and skills in rural community planning and development are discussed and an emerging professional role is presented. The consequences of this new professional curriculum at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Eastern Washington University are considered. (Author/BRR)