The Best Town in America?

I have a secret to share.

I am not Southern. Not by a Southerner's definition anyway.

I spent less than ten years "up North" before our family relocated to the American South.  Since then I have lived nearly double my life in this quiet, cozy, medium-sized Southern town.

Recently, our little city was featured in a fantastic national outdoor magazine- named as The Best Town in America. 

Really? Our little town?

At least that was the question on the mind of the Portland, Oregon magazine writer sent here to do the story. Our little city received the most votes in an online contest naming it the Best Town Ever and America's Ultimate Dream Town. 

The article opened with the quote: "Chiggers, poison ivy, rednecks, humid summers, cold winters. If you don't like those things, you shouldn't come here."

Hardly a way to beckon people to our city.

But perhaps that was the point. A comment by another transplant (this one from one state South), it pretty much summed up the atmosphere of our city. Meant to be tongue- and cheek, many local readers took offense at this statement. However, they seemed to miss the point.

"'I don't like Outside coming in here and naming this the best town ever,' he says, like a kid upset that his secret hideout had been revealed."

And that is how most residents view our little town. In the past, cities featured in national magazines as hubs for enthusiasts have been swamped with transplants. A prime example is a city about 100 miles from here known as the "NYC of the South." It has been flooded with an influx of new residents- increasing its metro population by 25% in an eight year span. As a result, this city has seen serious consequences from its exponential growth- major pollution, increased crime rates, massive habitat destruction, loss of community, and more recently the inability to maintain a fresh water supply to its residents.


Comparatively, our little town grew only 9% in those same years. In fact, slow urban sprawl seems to be a major selling point for our city. On their website, the Education, Arts, and Culture department describes our city as "culturally diverse and well known for being a service-oriented city.... has the best of everything and has avoided the sprawl of other major cities. Of course, it's the people that can make the real difference... [Our city] has a strong sense of community and the [film] production-friendly appeal that larger city's cannot duplicate."


However, as a place for opportunity, our city does fall short comparatively. There are few opportunities for employment outside the service or business oriented industries. For years, our city suffered from what is called the "brain drain" (people going off to college and not coming back because there is more opportunity elsewhere). The city is trying to combat this by building up a viable "artist district" and encouraging entreprenuership by offering educated artistic types grant money to relocate here and set up shop. Thus far, it seems to be working, however there are serious complaints by locals that they are being overlooked for these opportunities because they are in fact "locals." And to this day, our city is still just a Bachelor's town. There is little opportunity for anyone who has more than a four year college degree.


But I have to say, in the twenty some odd years since I moved here, our city has come a very long way. The city is more diverse than it once was. When my family first arrived, there was one ethnic restaurant in town. Now there are over fifty. When I first moved here, there was one other student in my elementary class who was "not from here." Now, each day, I encounter other transplants. And finally- after twenty some odd years, people have stopped asking me where I am from.


Yes, there are lots of opportunities elsewhere, but I like many other residents have chosen stay in this city simply because we like it here. That was the point of the article. That was what the interviewee was trying to convey. With the good of this city comes the bad. "It's all part of it."


And I guess it is good enough to be named the "Best Town in America."


To read this article for yourself, check out Outside Magazine's Sept 2011 feature article.
For more on this topic:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/13/a1-magazine-praises-slams-scenic-city/
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/12/chattanooga-praised-slammed-outdoor-magazine/
http://www.odysseylandco.com/articles/399-outside-magazine-selects-chattanooga.html
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_203701.asp
http://www.chattanooga.gov/EAC/2919_FilminginChattanooga.htm