Do small cities have a future?

[mhays25]

They won't make that connection.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

North West Arkansas, composed for four small cities Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville and Springdale is booming. It has non of the four items you listed.

Did the University of Arkansas sprout legs and move to West Memphis or something?

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

I grew up in a very small town in Oklahoma that is booming. Its the fastest growing in Oklahoma that is not a suburb of OKC or Tulsa. It has tourism, a casino and a microt steel mill and a glass manufacturing operation. It is part of the DFW combined metro so its economy is tied to DFW but it is a good 90 miles from DT Dallas and about 70 miles from the edge of DFW currently.

There are exceptions to the rule but the rule is dominant. I've lived in Houston, Pittsburgh, NYC metro, and DFW now and much prefer the suburbs to the city itself but I value having the city and all it offers near by.

Durant is about the only town in Oklahoma not a Tulsa or Oklahoma City suburb that is booming.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Did the University of Arkansas sprout legs and move to West Memphis or something?

Opps. I over looked this element and the growth of Fayetteville. I am a fan of Bentonville and Rogers more so than Fayetteville and Springdale. HQ of Walmart, Tysons foods and JBHunt are the main reason this spread otu metro is growing so fast. So having a HQ of a major Fortune company or three is another reason for the metro growth rate.