That's amazing. Close to my hometown they tried to build a battery plant and likely bribed the planning committee to get it. The town recalled everyone and tabled all plans. Those who want to keep their way of life will have to play hardball to keep it.
I enjoyed the article, but I think that every small town or rural area is completely different and you can’t generalize too much. There’s probably a lot more variation than urban or suburban areas, since everything depends on the physical environment and proximity to urban areas.
I would also note that there is a massive difference between a town of 10 or 20 thousand versus 1 or 2 thousand. The former is just a small urban area, the latter is the type of place people have been for generations and all know each other.
As someone who grew up in a small town, I can point to a lot of downsides:
1. The physical environment can actually be pretty bad. I grew up with asthma and allergies from all the dust and pollen, which partially cleared up in the city.
2. The peer group can be pretty junky if you’re an intelligent young person. Think Wayne’s World. The city or suburbs have much more in terms of gifted and specialized programs.
3. More and better summer jobs and internships for young people. I was pretty much limited to factory or farm work. I still have mild right hand stiffness from a summer spent using a screw gun.
4. Your kids would have to go elsewhere for university and when they grow up. They can’t live at home and spend a lot more money. You also can’t supervise them as young adults.
5. Medical specialists are a long drive away. Family doctors may or may not be available. Emergency services may also be sketchy.
I found that all of my university bound friends left and didn’t come back, other than an optometrist with deep roots. Interestingly, a lot of the retired parents traded up to bigger centres or suburbs to be close to their kids. My parents were the last ones from their peer group around until they finally packed up and left.
I eagerly await the death of the "appeal to wealthy city folk" trend. As Stumpy in Out Cold put it, "Before we knew what hit us, the streets were running with latte."
But they'll ultimately leave. As you point out, rural people get quite mean when tolerance runs out. The age old practice of "burning someone out" is still in the collective rural conscious, and will ultimately be quite shocking to the smug city folk if they ever learn of it.
The Jeffersonian agrarian ideal is dead and has been for a long time. The vast majority of rural citizens have nothing to do with farming except their personal gardens and maybe some livestock and even those folks are few in number. The majority of rural people are as dependent on government assistance as their inner city counterparts from my experience. The dream of most people that live in rural areas is to live close enough to somewhere to have a decent job and be able to afford a property where you can have animals and a prosperous garden and for me the ability to shoot anytime you want! My father in law is a perfect example, he had a grueling commute to northern ky near Cincinnati to work in a good paying job at the power plant after he left the navy. He worked like an animal to afford a 120 acre farm 2 hours south where he could afford to buy the land he wanted. He raises cattle but it was never more than just a supplement to his income if any and it was just something he enjoyed doing. Everyone who was native to the county his land was in eventually had to sell of the majority of their family’s property over generations because they didn’t have the income to sustain it locally. A lot of locals resented my father in law for being able to maintain and afford his whole property. Being at his place is idyllic when I take the kids on walks and let them ride horses but behind the fantasy is a man who worked every overtime shift available on nights for over twenty years while driving 2 hours for the privilege. I would saying living in a rural area without the income to afford and maintain land is just depressing despite whatever vibes are present as it’s just suburban living without the convenience. One funny observation as an attorney who represented thousands of indigent defendants in rural county’s is that my clients would often be wearing work boots and carhart clothing but yet had no jobs or income it was really just cosplay based on some previous generations in their family that had actually worked for a living at some point…
This piece hits home regarding my current conundrum. Born and raised in the suburbs, moved to the city for college, lived in Philadelphia for 4 years after college, and now I live adjacent to a southern college town and the rural America you’ve described here. Thus far, I’m starting to feel like I’m a rootless cosmopolitan. The suburbs stripped whatever cultural or ethnic identity my parents grew up with, the small town reminds me every day I’m not from here, and Philly impressed enough of a culture to alienate me from the sentiments of a true southerner. I’m a blank canvas once again daring to be painted on, in drastic need of an American Identity. But so far, there’s only two places I’ve really felt at home... Europe, Boston, and NYC. All of which presenting massive hurdles and being some of the most expensive places to live.
Funny observation: the large majority of people who use "rootless cosmopolitan" as a pejorative (it's always pejorative) are themselves rootless cosmopolitans.
Great read Alan. Even with the vast differences between rural Oklahoma/Kansas and rural parts of the East Coast there is a similar pattern. Distance is truly a big part of it. You can be considered rural both an hour from a decent city or three hours from the city in the middle of nowhere. You neglected to touch on it but I think the hicklib phenomena is very real as well. A certain kind of lower class white will be the to ape the worst of modernity as a form of rebellion for their inability to leave, a bit like the teachers you do mention.
Great read, thanks! I am from a medium-sized college town in the heart of scenic nowhere, surrounded by agricultural & forested counties and small towns. I live now in a farm town of about 200 people, significant Amish presence, 30 miles from my hometown.
What I am finding here and which may be true or at least possible for other small towns is that tourism is a pretty big part of the local economy. In the town proper, aside from the standard churches, pizza joint, and post office, there is a sporting goods store where you can rent a mountain bike or a kayak, and another where you can buy fishing gear and hire a fishing tour guide. The local (Amish-owned) grocery store makes a killing during big vacation months. Out-of-state plates are common to see. In general, my little town is pretty hoppin' for its size but still shuts down by 9pm.
So all that is to say, in touristy small towns there may be more opportunity for young people that doesn't involve farming. For example if you're willing to drive, you might clean Airbnb cabins for people who've gone to the city.
I would say though before just picking a place and moving there, do some visiting and make some contacts. If people get to know you and respect you somewhat they may be willing to help you get your foot in the door.
Truly a wonderful essay. Very thoughtful. The 'vibe' thing is real. Which is why we need more 'villages' with their own 'vibes'. I remember when 'tourism' was going to save the small towns. It saved some, I think, but mostly it didn't work.
the small southern Missouri town I spent most of my school years in actually won against Walmart in the 1980s.
after extended wrangling led to building permits being denied, Walmart bought land a half mile out of city limits at an intersection of two highways.
the town promptly annexed the area and denied building rights again, and the corporation gave up and left.
That's amazing. Close to my hometown they tried to build a battery plant and likely bribed the planning committee to get it. The town recalled everyone and tabled all plans. Those who want to keep their way of life will have to play hardball to keep it.
I enjoyed the article, but I think that every small town or rural area is completely different and you can’t generalize too much. There’s probably a lot more variation than urban or suburban areas, since everything depends on the physical environment and proximity to urban areas.
I would also note that there is a massive difference between a town of 10 or 20 thousand versus 1 or 2 thousand. The former is just a small urban area, the latter is the type of place people have been for generations and all know each other.
As someone who grew up in a small town, I can point to a lot of downsides:
1. The physical environment can actually be pretty bad. I grew up with asthma and allergies from all the dust and pollen, which partially cleared up in the city.
2. The peer group can be pretty junky if you’re an intelligent young person. Think Wayne’s World. The city or suburbs have much more in terms of gifted and specialized programs.
3. More and better summer jobs and internships for young people. I was pretty much limited to factory or farm work. I still have mild right hand stiffness from a summer spent using a screw gun.
4. Your kids would have to go elsewhere for university and when they grow up. They can’t live at home and spend a lot more money. You also can’t supervise them as young adults.
5. Medical specialists are a long drive away. Family doctors may or may not be available. Emergency services may also be sketchy.
I found that all of my university bound friends left and didn’t come back, other than an optometrist with deep roots. Interestingly, a lot of the retired parents traded up to bigger centres or suburbs to be close to their kids. My parents were the last ones from their peer group around until they finally packed up and left.
I think the point of the essay was that we have to 'pick our poison'. And I would add 'and respect others' choices'.
Exactly, it's a matter of temperament whether you are willing to accept the tradeoffs.
I eagerly await the death of the "appeal to wealthy city folk" trend. As Stumpy in Out Cold put it, "Before we knew what hit us, the streets were running with latte."
But they'll ultimately leave. As you point out, rural people get quite mean when tolerance runs out. The age old practice of "burning someone out" is still in the collective rural conscious, and will ultimately be quite shocking to the smug city folk if they ever learn of it.
The Jeffersonian agrarian ideal is dead and has been for a long time. The vast majority of rural citizens have nothing to do with farming except their personal gardens and maybe some livestock and even those folks are few in number. The majority of rural people are as dependent on government assistance as their inner city counterparts from my experience. The dream of most people that live in rural areas is to live close enough to somewhere to have a decent job and be able to afford a property where you can have animals and a prosperous garden and for me the ability to shoot anytime you want! My father in law is a perfect example, he had a grueling commute to northern ky near Cincinnati to work in a good paying job at the power plant after he left the navy. He worked like an animal to afford a 120 acre farm 2 hours south where he could afford to buy the land he wanted. He raises cattle but it was never more than just a supplement to his income if any and it was just something he enjoyed doing. Everyone who was native to the county his land was in eventually had to sell of the majority of their family’s property over generations because they didn’t have the income to sustain it locally. A lot of locals resented my father in law for being able to maintain and afford his whole property. Being at his place is idyllic when I take the kids on walks and let them ride horses but behind the fantasy is a man who worked every overtime shift available on nights for over twenty years while driving 2 hours for the privilege. I would saying living in a rural area without the income to afford and maintain land is just depressing despite whatever vibes are present as it’s just suburban living without the convenience. One funny observation as an attorney who represented thousands of indigent defendants in rural county’s is that my clients would often be wearing work boots and carhart clothing but yet had no jobs or income it was really just cosplay based on some previous generations in their family that had actually worked for a living at some point…
This piece hits home regarding my current conundrum. Born and raised in the suburbs, moved to the city for college, lived in Philadelphia for 4 years after college, and now I live adjacent to a southern college town and the rural America you’ve described here. Thus far, I’m starting to feel like I’m a rootless cosmopolitan. The suburbs stripped whatever cultural or ethnic identity my parents grew up with, the small town reminds me every day I’m not from here, and Philly impressed enough of a culture to alienate me from the sentiments of a true southerner. I’m a blank canvas once again daring to be painted on, in drastic need of an American Identity. But so far, there’s only two places I’ve really felt at home... Europe, Boston, and NYC. All of which presenting massive hurdles and being some of the most expensive places to live.
Anyway, great writing as always.
Funny observation: the large majority of people who use "rootless cosmopolitan" as a pejorative (it's always pejorative) are themselves rootless cosmopolitans.
Great read Alan. Even with the vast differences between rural Oklahoma/Kansas and rural parts of the East Coast there is a similar pattern. Distance is truly a big part of it. You can be considered rural both an hour from a decent city or three hours from the city in the middle of nowhere. You neglected to touch on it but I think the hicklib phenomena is very real as well. A certain kind of lower class white will be the to ape the worst of modernity as a form of rebellion for their inability to leave, a bit like the teachers you do mention.
Great read, thanks! I am from a medium-sized college town in the heart of scenic nowhere, surrounded by agricultural & forested counties and small towns. I live now in a farm town of about 200 people, significant Amish presence, 30 miles from my hometown.
What I am finding here and which may be true or at least possible for other small towns is that tourism is a pretty big part of the local economy. In the town proper, aside from the standard churches, pizza joint, and post office, there is a sporting goods store where you can rent a mountain bike or a kayak, and another where you can buy fishing gear and hire a fishing tour guide. The local (Amish-owned) grocery store makes a killing during big vacation months. Out-of-state plates are common to see. In general, my little town is pretty hoppin' for its size but still shuts down by 9pm.
So all that is to say, in touristy small towns there may be more opportunity for young people that doesn't involve farming. For example if you're willing to drive, you might clean Airbnb cabins for people who've gone to the city.
I would say though before just picking a place and moving there, do some visiting and make some contacts. If people get to know you and respect you somewhat they may be willing to help you get your foot in the door.
Truly a wonderful essay. Very thoughtful. The 'vibe' thing is real. Which is why we need more 'villages' with their own 'vibes'. I remember when 'tourism' was going to save the small towns. It saved some, I think, but mostly it didn't work.