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City dwellers may look down on small town America and wonder what a small town could possibly have to offer. What is there to see and do? Why choose to live out in the middle of nowhere? But there are as many reasons, that tempt people to live in small town America rather than move to the big city.

Location is often a prime factor that keeps people in small town America. For those who want to live away  from the hustle and bustle of city life, the country has a special appeal to it. So rather than rushing through traffic or running to catch a train during the busy commuting times, many prefer to live far away from the city in a small town where they live and work. Living in the country can cut the stress from commuting through heavy traffic to get to work each day.

Small town America often gives people an opportunity to live on a larger size lot with a front and back garden. Residents therefore have more freedom to plant flowers, fruit and vegetables. They can also set up swings and a slide for their children, if they so choose. City dwellers cannot even claim a slab of concrete outside their home as their own a lot of the time, as they are more likely to be squashed tightly into small apartments.

Living in a small town in America gives people a chance to get to know their neighbours more easily. With a population of 5,000 or less, it is quite likely that you will be running into the same people again and again. City dwellers who visit small towns will be surprised to see people greeting one another and holding conversations with people they meet in the street, supermarket, health food shop and pharmacy. People know one another and this can help to create a tighter sense of community, that is hard to find in a large city where many people would rather maintain their anonymity.

Some small town dwellers still feel safe enough to leave their doors, windows and doors unlocked, especially if their town is not known for its high crime rate. Relative safety can make people more trusting of others. But of course, that does not mean to say that small town America is crime free. It is actually refreshing to see people welcoming strangers to their town, rather than treating everyone they meet with suspicion.

People who are on a limited income and cannot afford to move to a large city, can usually live more cheaply in a small town. Food, clothing, fuel, and house prices are lower, which makes small town living more affordable. Rather than having to live in apartment blocks or surrounded by other homes, many small town residents can live further away from their other neighbours, which gives them more seclusion and privacy.

Small towns are not without “things to see and do”. Depending on where you go, you can visit nearby national parks and forests and go hiking, fishing, skiing, hunting, cycling around trails, and kayaking. Small towns also have inside attractions such as museums and art galleries, so they are not entirely without “culture”.

Living in a small town certainly has its benefits and that is why many people would much rather choose small town America over overcrowded, polluted, crime filled cities.

“Why are skateparks important? The answer is obvious to those fortunate enough to have one in their community, while the unenlightened think that they are breeding grounds for trouble: a place where rebellious, outcast kids gather and conspire to commit crimes against traditional activities. This stereotype is not true, of course. And when a skatepark finally gets built in areas where the idea was first met with disapproval, the naysayers quickly realize what a positive impact it has on their communities.-Tony Hawks” Read the rest of this entry »

Today in Hardy at the Old Hardy Gym during a local Bazaar  they were asking for participants of women who were at least 18 and older to be part of a unique study benefiting breast cancer research. 

This is put on by Spit for the Cure which is a research study currently lef by Martha Phillips, Ph.D. and conducted at the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health and Winthrop P. Rockfeller Cancer Institute at UAMS.

DNA samples and answers from the questionnaire will be used to create a bank of information for future studies. Each participants personal identification will be protected through the use of a unique ID. Researchers will access the samples and data to address specific questions related to the factors affecting breast cancer.

Recruitment of participants during events throughout the state will put Arkansas women in the forefront in the fight  against breast cancer.

 If you would like for a Spit for the Cure recruiters to attend your community event, please contact:

Shana Fetters at (501) 296-1131