Adults age 85 and older, sometimes referred to as the "oldest old," are one of the fastest-growing population groups across the country. The oldest old are more likely than younger age groups to have chronic conditions as well as financial and human resource-intensive healthcare needs. Although the growth of this population represents a welcome extension of lifespans, it is also likely to produce greater needs for healthcare and long-term care services. To prepare for these needs, it is important to examine where the oldest old reside and what the characteristics of those communities are, especially given documented differences in rural-urban locations in long-term care availability and caregiver supports.