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A source of revenue and place of employment is the main difference between success and failure. You can't run a successful city or small town without jobs and tax income. Traditionally that would have often been a successful local company that can provide a few hundred jobs itself and support additional jobs at service providers. Nowadays it's more likely to be centered around tourism and/or a local college.
and some others in Upstate NY that are solid to quite nice.
Unlike the above towns the more successful towns have had a remarkable record of always steady growth in population for over a hundred years. A few have now grown into much coveted metro status. An outstanding example is Grand Island, Nebraska. Another one is Kearney, Nebraska, but not a metro.
Having a well regarded university or college is also a pretty big determination here, at least in the South such as towns like Lexington VA (Washington and Lee University and VMI), Boone NC (App State), Radford VA (Radford University), Clemson SC (Clemson University), Rome GA (Shorter University and Berry College), Sewanee, TN (University of the South), Oxford MS (University of Mississippi), Mars Hill NC (Mars Hill University), and Statesboro GA (Georgia Southern). I doubt any of those towns would be much of anything and on the decline if it wasn't for the colleges and universities presence.
Small towns with colleges tend to the more “high” performing ones, especially in the Midwest.
I also think there are just general regional differences in the quality of small-towns. Small towns in New England and parts of the upper Midwest like Minnesota just feel a LOT nicer than ones in places like Oklahoma and Texas.
Being close to expensive metros that are pushing people out can also naturally draw people. I think this is a big factor for a lot of small-town Washington and Idaho
All regions have successful small towns. I agree with the previous posts on the themes that maintain or grow small towns: College/University anchor, Tourist destination, Industry niche, Retirement community, or combinations of the former.
Due to the sheer number of small towns in the country there's more stagnant or declining than successful towns. The ones declining typically base on 1 or few industries that dwindled or shut down.
Within Mississippi the ones that maintain are the college towns & industrial towns besides the burbs.
Unlike the above towns the more successful towns have had a remarkable record of always steady growth in population for over a hundred years. A few have now grown into much coveted metro status. An outstanding example is Grand Island, Nebraska. Another one is Kearney, Nebraska, but not a metro.
All of those places are technically villages ranging from say 2000-8000 people or so. So, those examples are really small towns. Some have colleges and/or some get tourists. Most, except for Watkins Glen are within a decent sized metro area as well.
In my experience, most of the best and prosperous small towns seem to have at least one of the three following characteristics: tourism and recreation as the main economic driver, existence of a 4 year college, or focus on some niche industry.
Towns like Aspen, Jackson Hole, Moab UT, Hood River OR, a lot of coastal communities tend to fall into the first category; Yellow Springs OH, probably most of small town New England, Marquette MI, etc. fall into the second category; and Bardstown KY, Effingham IL, anywhere with national labs (i.e. Los Alamos NM) the third.
Yeah, this is basically it. Though I'd define "niche industry" more broadly. For example, I think a lot of the smaller state capitals qualify, as do areas supported by military bases, prisons, or other large public employers.
Of course, these towns aren't always prosperous, but they're not dying. Dying towns are basically anywhere that the local economy is almost entirely based upon farming, resource extraction (mining/logging) or most manufacturing.
A government payroll, from a prison or a state college or state hospital, serves as an anchor in many successful small towns. Fulton Missouri is a prime example. It had the state mental institution for many decades (downsized) and then a state prison reception and diagnostic center was built. It is home to William Woods College and Westminster College, where Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech. Now there is an impressive Churchill Memorial that draws tourists. The town is within commuting distance to Columbia, Missouri - home of the state's flagship university, and the state capital of Jefferson City. It is a few miles off Interstate 70 in Highway 54, a little closer to St. Louis than Kansas City. Yet it has a small town feel and has its own distinct character and history. The population is about 12,500 and has grown by only 2,500 residents since 1950.
A very successful small town that comes to my mind is Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The town thrives on tourism and natural scenery with a lake and beach, mountain backdrop, downtown has a modern look and decent amenities while still keeping the small town charm, very clean and friendly people. And unlike other small towns in rural America, crime and drug use is very low. The only downside is that it's also located next door to one of the most trashiest/ghetto cities in America, Spokane.
Seaside, Oregon is another small town that is successful, it's a beach town right on the coast, thriving on tourism, you have these nice high rises, restaurants, and shops lining the main street leading right down to the beach. And unlike Coeur d'Alene, it's not located next to any undesirable areas.
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