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But we're not looking down our noses from high rise Silicon Valley condos, so I guess we're all a bunch of unwashed degenerates.
The very few hundred thousand or so that have the bulk of the space to ourselves are extremely happy to keep it "undeveloped", outside of agriculture, forest work, and mining sites with most (and all new ones) having strict controls about rehabilition .. in keeping with traditional land holders with some 70K years of history invested here.
It's odd to realise we've transitioned (as a species) from < %50 living in urban environments to > %50 within the past 40 or so years.
Maybe, maybe not. Those tell me about Ohio in general, not the area the parent commenter is talking about. Either way, I'd be inclined to ask the people who live there what they want, not prescribe "development and jobs" from my ivory tower while insulting them.
My point is that you're making a pretty absurd false dichotomy. It's either "unemployment and opiate addicts", or having your quiet rural home paved over? Those are the only two choices?