Logging Off: Rethinking Rural Futures after the Fall of the Timber Industry

In this paper, I explore the transformation of rural communities traditionally dependent on resource extraction industries, such as coal mining, logging, and oil, through the lens of a relational approach to rural development. Rather than viewing these communities in isolation, I use this approach to highlight their interconnections with broader economic, political, and environmental networks and processes. The concept of the rural as relational highlights how many of these areas, often characterized as "left-behind places," are shaped by interactions and dependencies with urban centers and global markets, particularly as resource extraction industries decline. I argue that the decline of extractive economies creates both challenges and opportunities for economic diversification and redevelopment, where local actors must work with local constraints while leveraging internal and external resources to foster resilience. Using case studies from former logging communities in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, this analysis shows how communities are transforming their futures through a variety of initiatives. By focusing on how these regions are not merely left behind but actively negotiating their roles within broader systems, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of rural transformation as a dynamic process influenced by relational networks, economic restructuring, and community-driven development strategies.