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Small Towns

The Art of Civic Engagement

In Starksboro, Vermont, planners are using storytelling and community art projects to get at the heart of what matters to residents.
9 November 2009 - 9:00am
Burlington Free Press
Tim Halbur

The Telecommuting Town

Mon, 08/31/2009 - 07:37

Planetizen readers, I have an idea I'd like your opinion on. As managing editor for the past year, I've become increasingly aware of how skilled and professional our readers are. Comments on articles are almost always civil, engaging and thoughtful, something that can't be said for the majority of websites. We have a community of experts here, which is why I bring my idea to you.

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Films a Blessing and a Curse for Small New Mexico Towns

Small towns in New Mexico are increasingly being used as film locations. But for some locals, the invasion of Hollywood is not worth the economic benefits.
21 July 2009 - 6:00am
Los Angeles Times

The Planetizen News Brief - 7/9/09


4:30 minutes (4.19 MB)

Enviros struggle to move past NIMBY tendencies, iPhones begin tracking urban nuisances, and a small town main street succeeds -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.

9 July 2009 - 5:00am
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The Planetizen News Brief - 5/14/09


4:30 minutes (4.13 MB)

Minorities rise in the 'burbs, small cities struggle to retain youth, and a look inside declining Las Vegas, all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.

14 May 2009 - 5:00am
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Small Towns Work to Keep Young Population

Towns in East Texas have watched their children graduate high school and leave town for generations- in some towns, up to 90% of graduates flee. Job development is key to keeping the kids down on the farm, but older locals balk at growth.
11 May 2009 - 1:00pm
Longview News Journal

Satisfied in the Suburb

According to the Pew Research Center, suburban dwellers are the most content with where they live, despite reports that also find that suburbs are not regarded the most ideal places to live.
7 March 2009 - 5:00am
Pew Research Center
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The Planetizen News Brief - 2/26/09


4:30 minutes (4.17 MB)

China's Olympic building bust, America's struggling small towns, and why those small towns represent the future of the U.S. -- all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City". Read, listen or download.

26 February 2009 - 5:00am
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Portrait of a Commuter Town

A NY Times profile of Suffern, NY focuses on real estate, but in the process creates a miniature of the struggles of all small towns- keeping the historic downtown vibrant, offering varied housing options, and competing with neighboring cities.
10 January 2009 - 1:00pm
The New York Times
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Suburbs Benefit From an Urban President, Too

In fact, says one planner, suburbs and exurbs can expect to see some of the biggest changes of all, at least from infrastructure and transportation funding.
22 December 2008 - 6:00am
Marketwatch

Predicting McCain and Obama's Effect on Cities

Neal Pierce asks the question, 'Who's Best for Cities, McCain or Obama?' The evidence has been difficult to come by, but Pierce unearths some clues and makes some logical predictions.
19 September 2008 - 1:00pm
Citiwire.net
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The Flood of 'Amenity Migrants'

Scenic resort towns are increasingly attracting older residents, creating a population boom that far surpasses growth rates in many cities and urban areas.
20 August 2008 - 6:00am
NPR

Great Allegheny Passage Brings Unexpected Revitalization

Hiking and cycling traffic on the Great Allegheny Passageway has brought jobs and prosperity to small towns along the route.
30 July 2008 - 2:00pm
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Can Small Town America Survive the End of Cheap Gas?

With few local job opportunities, residents in small towns have grown accustomed to long commutes to cities. But with high gas prices making those commutes unaffordable, some economists wonder how much longer small towns can retain their populations.
29 July 2008 - 9:00am
The Kansas City Star
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The Best Small Town You've Never Heard Of

Exeter, California, may lie off the beaten path and be little-known outside the southern San Joaquin Valley. But its thriving, spotless downtown would be the envy of most cities.
12 June 2008 - 11:00am
California Planning & Development Report

Opportunities in Tornadoes

Parkersburg, IA, reeling from a recent tornado that devastated the town, could look to nearby Charles City for a silver lining.
2 June 2008 - 2:00pm
Des Moines Register

Feeling Down On Main Street

In the wake of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama's recent gaffe, New York Times blogger Timothy Egan sheds some light on the reality of rural America and its role in America's future.
19 April 2008 - 12:00pm
The New York Times

Sprawl Not an Option for Rural Chicago Suburb

Th small town of Golf, Illinois, is likely to stay that way because of barriers at its borders. Its residents couldn't be happier.
3 April 2008 - 8:00am
The Chicago Tribune

Small Town Approaching its Final Days

A proposed development in rural Southern California could erase one of the area's few remaining small towns, replacing it with a massive subdivision that would extend the sprawl of Los Angeles even farther north.
5 March 2008 - 9:00am
The Los Angeles Times
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