On Saturday, June 10, the National League of Cities will celebrate National Small Cities and Towns Day, an event to recognize the important role of small towns in American life and to honor the service of elected and appointed officials in those communities. This year, the theme is ?The Power of We ? Building Inclusive Communities? and cities and towns across America will hold festivals, host panel discussions on efforts to build more inclusive communities and conduct a variety of activities highlighting the special stature of this country?s small cities.
In the old sitcom Cheers, everybody knew your name. The same can usually be said for life in a small town. Ed Putens, councilman from Greenbelt, Md, and chairman of NLC?s Small Cities Council, sums it up another way. ?In small cities and towns, it?s about a sense of community, a feeling of security and knowing almost everyone in town and of course they know you.?
Of course, if you are a child in a small town, everybody knowing your name can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. ?My children know that there are other people that know who they are, and they have to act as a good example as a result,? said Margaret Finley, council member from Duarte, Calif.
Coni J. Hadden, council member from Liberty, Mo, appreciated the fact that her neighbors ?knew my children when they were walking to and from school. The townsfolk reported to me when they saw my kids doing something good. They mentioned it to my kids when they saw something they didn?t approve of. My kids knew other people noticed what they were doing.?
?Small communities make up the fabric of American life,? said NLC President Jim Hunt, councilman from the small city of Clarksburg, WVa. ?In fact, a majority of US cities are under 50,000 people. Everyday, and in many small ways, small towns are making a difference and improving the quality of life for their citizens.?
Clay Ford, mayor pro tem of Gulf Breeze, Fla, thinks small towns are desirable because people ?can call City Hall if they are upset and they know someone will listen.? It?s that feeling of connection ? of being able to have a say in what happens in your community or neighborhood -- that really makes small city living attractive.
?It just seems like part of my job when I visit the post office or the local grocery store and retail store,? said Scott Black, Dade City commissioner and Small Cities vice chairman. ?Even a routine trip can almost turn into a mini town hall meeting.? That access to decision makers builds trust and gets people involved in the democratic process and lets them know they are empowered to make a difference, Black said.
Being closer to those providing city services also leads to more people knowing what their taxes are paying for. ?The city manager is the first one out with a chain saw after a storm to help clear the driveway and streets,? said Ford. Tualatin, Or, Mayor Lou Ogden concurs. ?You?re empowered to make a difference, and you can accomplish tangible outcomes without getting ?lost in the inertia,?? he said.
Families are a big part of the equation when it comes to living in small cities. ?I remember the day I moved back to my hometown of Rexburg, it truly was coming home,? said Rexburg, Idaho, Mayor Shawn Larsen and vice chair of the Small Cities Council. ? Rexburg prides itself on being America?s family community and a great place to raise a family. This is why I choose to live in a small city.?
Putens echoed these remarks, adding ?raising another generation with the same sense of caring for others, particularly our youth and our seniors, that?s what it?s all about.?
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Five Great Reasons to Live in a Small City or Town
1. Everyone knows everyone else ? so your kids have to behave better!
2. Going to the grocery store can turn into a mini town hall meeting so be prepared to stay awhile
wherever you go.
3. If you double park for five minutes, no one honks the horn.
4. Citizens really get involved so you can actually accomplish something.
5. Everyone feels like they have a stake in ?MY town.?