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Without a doubt, many of the largest cities in the country get all the love. It seems like everyone is talking about places such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, but there are a lot of benefits that come from visiting small towns as well. At the same time, some people are wondering what the definition of a small town might be. There are some people who say that a small town has fewer than 30,000 people, while other people say that a small town has fewer than 20,000 people. The reality is that a small town is much more of a feel than an actual number, and it is important to take a closer look at some of these small towns.
There are plenty of reasons why people enjoy living in a small town. For example, the cost of living in a small town is generally lower than the cost of living in a large city. Furthermore, there is less traffic in a small town, which means it doesn't take as long to get from place to place. It is not unusual for the environment to be much cleaner in a small town as well. Because the city isn't that large, there is not a lot of pollution, meaning that people tend to be healthier. Clearly, there are a lot of reasons why so many people enjoy living in a small town.
There is a lot of debate surrounding the best small town in the United States, but there are a lot of people who believe it is Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Chapel Hill is known as the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even though there are a lot of students who attend this university, the town is very small otherwise. Chapel Hill is famous for being very hesitant to allow big box stores within its City Limits, and there are a lot of great restaurants to enjoy as well. Furthermore, there are plenty of outdoor hiking and biking opportunities for those who love spending time outside; however, Chapel Hill also has plenty of sports, both to watch and to play.
Even though people certainly love Chapel Hill, many people also enjoy Telluride, Colorado. This is a great location for people who love to ski and snowboard, as there is nothing quite like the Rocky Mountains during the winter. Furthermore, the center of Telluride is home to a National Historic Landmark District, with lots of buildings that date back to the Victorian era. After the winter ends, there are still plenty of activities for people to enjoy. For example, lots of people enjoy river sports, golfing, fly fishing, hiking, and biking. It is easy to see why so many people enjoy Telluride, Colorado.
State | Population < 5k | Population 5k to 10k | Best Small Town | Most Charming Small Town |
---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois | 968 | 103 | Galena | Alton |
Iowa | 856 | 43 | Pella | Decorah |
Texas | 847 | 133 | Dripping Springs | Gruene |
Pennsylvania | 820 | 126 | Volant | Latrobe |
Missouri | 808 | 53 | Kimmswick | Hannibal |
Minnesota | 703 | 48 | Grand Marais | Park Rapids |
Ohio | 670 | 82 | Marblehead | Marietta |
Kansas | 562 | 29 | Wamego | Lindsborg |
Oklahoma | 515 | 29 | Medicine Park | Medicine Park |
Wisconsin | 452 | 57 | Stockholm | Fish Creek |
Indiana | 441 | 41 | Santa Claus | Warsaw |
Arkansas | 433 | 29 | Jasper | Eureka Springs |
New York | 428 | 77 | Shelter Island | Skaneateles |
North Carolina | 410 | 51 | Blowing Rock | Ocracoke Island |
Georgia | 395 | 45 | Helen | Cartersville |
Michigan | 380 | 62 | Frankenmuth | Houghton |
Alabama | 356 | 39 | Eufaula | Fairhope |
North Dakota | 343 | 4 | Garrison | Medora |
Kentucky | 339 | 37 | Bardstown | Paducah |
South Dakota | 293 | 5 | Custer | Yankton |
Louisiana | 245 | 24 | St. Francisville | Ponchatoula |
Tennessee | 241 | 41 | Gatlinburg | Paris |
South Carolina | 206 | 23 | Beaufort | Newberry |
West Virginia | 206 | 13 | Lewisburg | Thomas |
Colorado | 199 | 20 | Crested Butte | Mancos |
Florida | 185 | 55 | DeFuniak Springs | Crystal River |
Virginia | 164 | 25 | Lexington | Bristol |
Idaho | 163 | 12 | Ketchum | Wallace |
Oregon | 160 | 23 | Depoe Bay | Jacksonville |
Utah | 159 | 27 | Green River | Kanab |
Washington | 159 | 32 | Port Townsend | La Conner |
Alaska | 138 | 8 | Sitka | Unalaska |
New Jersey | 132 | 78 | Cape May | Lambertville |
Maryland | 113 | 21 | St. Michaels | Cumberland |
Montana | 109 | 11 | Whitefish | Whitefish |
Wyoming | 83 | 5 | Buffalo | Sheridan |
New Mexico | 70 | 16 | Taos | Taos |
California | 53 | 53 | Los Alamos | Carmel |
Delaware | 46 | 5 | Rehoboth Beach | New Castle |
Arizona | 33 | 14 | Bisbee | Winslow |
Vermont | 32 | 4 | Chester | Montpelier |
Connecticut | 9 | 1 | Essex | Essex |
Nevada | 7 | 2 | Virginia City | Carson City |
Maine | 3 | 9 | Bar Harbor | Kennebunkport |
District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | ||
Hawaii | 0 | 0 | Haleiwa | Hilo |
Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | Provincetown | Nantucket |
Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | Little Compton | Bristol |
Mississippi | Corinth | Oxford | ||
Nebraska | Chadron | Nebraska City | ||
New Hampshire | Hanover | Littleton |