“At one time Walmart based all of its stores in exclusively-rural areas. I presume for good reasons.”
At one time, people in the sticks had to pay premium prices.
Wal-Mart, by charging fair prices, had easy pickings for decades.
Not knocking their model, just noting that rural costs are lower, including property taxes in many rural counties.
In our neck of the woods an employee-owned corporation is giving them a run for the money and I frequent them for groceries more than Walmart, unless I’m looking for organic produce (they are highly-competitive compared to Wholemazon...)