Historically, the Southern region of the United States has been considered more rural compared to the Middle and New England regions. The South has a larger proportion of farmland and rural communities, whereas New England is more urbanized and industrialized, particularly in its northern areas. The Middle region, which includes parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest, also has a mix of urban and rural areas, but it leans toward a more balanced distribution. Therefore, the answer would be:
A) southern region