This was a good thread. I kind of chuckled reading Philip's arguments that he lives in a rural area while describing it since he was basically describing the textbook example of an exurb.
I have more commentary on this, but that has to come later.
Loudon County, VA is the fastest growing county in the United States (at leats was from 2000-2005) it is not rural, it WAS rural, but not anymore. Now parts f it might still be rural (far western portions of the county) and I'm not sure where exactly in Loudon Phil lives, but it is no longer rural, and no question an exurb, and moving towards suburbs (parts of the county is no question full out suburbia)