What is a good English translation for "老乡"? In what contexts can 老乡 used? How do they translate to English?
An appropriate word would be countryman


  noun, plural countrymen.

 1. a native or inhabitant of one's own country.
 2. a native or inhabitant of a particular region.
 3. person who lives in the country.
 4. an unsophisticated person, as one who lives in or comes from a rural
    area; rustic.



Meaning from Baidu:

1、老乡的范围可大可小。比如在市里看到同一县的人，在省里看到同一市的人，在全国看到同一省的人，都可以算做老乡
2、以前解放军对百姓们的称呼。


Translated to English:


  
  The usage of this word is flexible. For example, it can be applied to those living within the same district of a city, the same city
  within a province, or the same province within the country.
  The PLA used to address the commoners this way.
  


Usage example:

无论是因为工作漂泊在外，还是因为求学进去在外，一句老乡拉近了你我彼此之间的距离。