Ruritan is a civic organization whose objectives include creating a greater understanding between rural and urban people on the problems of each, as well as on their mutual problems and working with those agencies which serve the community and contribute directly to its progress. It is similar to the service organizations of the cities but designed to meet the needs of rural people and rural communities.

Ruritan was founded in 1928 in Holland, Virginia, it has grown from the Tidewater area of Virginia to the foot hills of the Rockies: from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and in doing so, has become the largest rural civic organization in America.

The objectives of Ruritan as stated in the Ruritan National constitution are as follows:

• To promote fellowship and goodwill among its members and citizens of the community, and to inspire each other to higher efforts.

• To unify the efforts of individuals, organizations and institutions in the community toward making it an ideal place in which to live.

• To work with those agencies that serve the community and contribute directly to its progress.

• To encourage and foster the ideal of Service as the basis of all worthy enterprise.

• To create greater understanding between rural and urban people on the problems of each, as well as on their mutual problems.