Community Pride

**AmyBoz** · 11-09-2008, 05:08 PM

So, I was driving through my town today and was thinking about how much I love living here. So, it got me to thinking that maybe I'd ask all of you why you are proud of where you live. What's unique about it? What keeps you there? Anything interesting or weird about your town?

My town is interesting because it's historic. It was settled in 1715 and quickly became an important spot in New Jersey and in colonial history. George Washington and his troops spent the winter here during the Revolutionary War. There are all sorts of preserved soldiers forts and revolutionary homes throughout the town. There are still trails left by the soldiers, and one of the favorite hiking trails that dd and I take are the 300 steps, which Washington's men built to get to the highest point in the county so that they could see the British advancing. When I was little, we'd always go on field trips to the Jacob Ford Mansion, which is where Washington actually stayed. My church served as a hospital during the war, and Washington took communion in our courtyard. My church actually just celebrated its 275th anniversary.

As a historian, it's difficult not to love this town.

I also love New Jersey, in general, because it is so beautiful in the fall. People who've never been to NJ think that it's some congested, cluttered state. It actually couldn't be further from the truth. I know the New England people have a leg up on us during the fall, but still, it is definitely a sight to behold in the autumn. (Of course, the downside is that we could rake every single day and never be done.)

So, what's special about your town or area where you live? Why do you love it? Why do you stay?

**Buc-O-Mama** · 11-09-2008, 05:24 PM

We are blessed to live 20 minutes from downtown Tampa and 20 minutes from the Winter Strawberry capital of the world. Small town meets big city sounds so cliche' but that's where we are. Not too far from the beach either. There is always something going on or somewhere to go. It's also a great place to do nothing particular at all. We also have the best Cuban sandwiches, deviled crab and strawberry shortcake in the world.

This is the same county where DH was born and most of his and my families live. It's where our roots are. DH was in the USMC and we left here as newly married teenagers and moved back 15 yrs. later to finish raising our kids here. The community is family focused and really rallies together when crisis hits. In a period of 3 months of this year our pastor and his son were killed in a car accident, then our worship leader died unexpectedly as well. Our community poured out compassion and support for our congregation in such a loving way. It was a real comfort.

**Michelle68** · 11-09-2008, 06:09 PM

My city is pretty cool also. It was founded in the early 1700's by Spanish monks. It has many tourists attractions but is probably best known for the one in which Texians fought for independence from Mexico in 1836, the Alamo. My city has about 1.5 million people, but the people here are friendly and pretty laid back.

We are close to the Texas coast (about 2 hours away) and right at the foot of the Texas Hill Country. We have numerous tourist attraction such as the River Walk, various amusement parks and a lot of historic sites. We have terrific Mexican (Tex-Mex) food restaurants.

I also love the multicultural aspect of my city. A little over half the population is Hispanic and, interestingly, we have one of the biggest MLK marches in the country. Our cost of living here is relatively low and we don't seem to have been affected as much as other areas by the economic downturn.

Overall, I think San Antonio is a great city in which to live and to visit.

**AmyBoz** · 11-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Ooh, Michelle, I love SanAntonio. One of my best friends moved there in high school and I visited him every year for a few years. LOVED that city!

**Michelle68** · 11-09-2008, 07:42 PM

Thanks, Amy! I would love to visit your town. It sounds like it would be so pretty to see in the fall (unfortunately, we don't really have too much of an autumn down here) and the Revolutionary War sites would be really interesting to visit. I love historic places like that.

**melodys** · 11-09-2008, 08:56 PM

I just moved to a new community a few months ago. I was very careful in my choice and I'm delighted to live here. I live on a small island near Seattle. I love it because it is quiet, peaceful and has the most amazing schools. My son is in the high school band - they have marched in the Rose Bowl parade and they are applying to be in the presidental inaguration parade. My new community seems to highly value education, the arts, and the environment, which make it perfectly in line with my values.

**MoonMommy** · 11-09-2008, 09:36 PM

I love where we live. I live in Western NY, near the PA border. I am surounded by hills and nature. You can't beat fall in the North East. I used to live in FL and KY, I missed seeing the change of seasons. I missed the vibrant colors of the trees. I also LOVE winter and snow. I missed that when I lived in the south.

I also love the personality of the people where I live. It is one of those small communities where everybody talks to everyone else. You can't stand in the grocery line without someone chatting with you. It is the kind of place where you end up developing a relationship with the people who work at the grocery, or BJs. It is a nice feeling.

I also like that we live about 1.5 hours from Niagara Falls. It is such an amazing magnificant sight. Hubby and I went there last weekend for our Anniversary and it was so neat to be so close to all that natural power and beauty.

**reginaastralis** · 11-13-2008, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by Buc-O-Mama

We are blessed to live 20 minutes from downtown Tampa and 20 minutes from the Winter Strawberry capital of the world. Small town meets big city sounds so cliche' but that's where we are. Not too far from the beach either. There is always something going on or somewhere to go. It's also a great place to do nothing particular at all. We also have the best Cuban sandwiches, deviled crab and strawberry shortcake in the world.

This is the same county where DH was born and most of his and my families live. It's where our roots are. DH was in the USMC and we left here as newly married teenagers and moved back 15 yrs. later to finish raising our kids here. The community is family focused and really rallies together when crisis hits. In a period of 3 months of this year our pastor and his son were killed in a car accident, then our worship leader died unexpectedly as well. Our community poured out compassion and support for our congregation in such a loving way. It was a real comfort.

So, just thought I'd say "Hi!" neighbor.

We live in Brandon, have my whole life. I remember this place when it was nothing but strawberry feilds and cow pastures. Pretty neat to "meet" you.

**Moor** · 11-13-2008, 07:38 AM

I live in Fairborn Ohio.
It is home to Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
The National Museum of the Air Force.
Fairborn is also know locally as Halloween Town.
In September, we have 5 stores that sell halloween items. All of them along Main Street. The man who owns these stores, decorates main street with props.. There are two haunted houses in his stores.
Let's see:
Foy's 5 and 10, is basically a general store, that caters to the halloween all year long. This store has a haunted house in it.
Foy's Adult Costumes, has adult costumes, make up, wigs, and rental costumes. This store is only open during halloween season, but he will take you there if you are in the 5/10 and tell him that you need something out of season.
Foy's Kid's Costumes, only kids costumes.
Foy's Special Effects, is a store that has only special effects. Things like animated items for you home or haunted house. If you are looking for that special vomitting man, or the electric chair display, this is the store to go to. Also has things like body parts, cauldrons, and lights. This store has on of the haunted house's above it.
Foy's Special Special Effects is the store to get your strobe lights, coffins, mummies, and supplies from.
We have a halloween parade.
Mike Foy, owns a car made from a coffin, several hearses', and decorates all over main street from his store. He has bought several historic house's in town and decorates them also.
People come from all over to visit these stores. The professional haunted house makers, use all of his items.

Then there is the close towns, Yellow Springs, Dayton, Springfield, New Carlisle. They all have things to offer.
Yellow Springs has a street fair twice a year. They close down town and vendors from all over the place come and sell their wares. Yellow Springs also has John Bryan State Park (which is where we camp a lot),Glenn Helen Nature Preserve, and is close to one of the few working mills left in Ohio.
There is also Young's Jersey Dairy close by. I will just let you go to the site:
http://www.youngsdairy.com/home.html
In Dayton, there are lots of great shopping.
Springfield is good for shopping also.
New Carlisle has one of the best nursery/garden centers ever!
http://www.meadowview.com/

Besides all that, we have the changing of the seasons here. I know that a lot of people like to go to New England to see the changing, but I have never had the desire. I like to hike in the state parks and get to see some awesome colors.
Maybe next year, I will feel more like taking some photos so that I can show you all how beautiful it is here.

**McD** · 11-13-2008, 09:03 AM

I grew up in Warsaw Illinois--population 1800. Warsaw is right on the banks of the Mississippi River. It has tons of old historic buildings, including a brewery that has been converted into a bar/restaraunt. There was an old military fort there at one point that was started by Zachary Taylor. Also, this is more of a blemish on the community, but the people of Warsaw killed the founder of the LDS religion when he was jailed in a nearby town.

**The Muse** · 11-13-2008, 09:32 AM

The first time DH and I drove through the town we now live in, I told him "I want to live here". He knew the town and said it was very expensive, but I'd never been there before so I was clueless and smitten. I saved like crazy and we were able buy a house there.

It's an awesome New England town with a thriving downtown, beautiful stately homes, gardens, and picket fences. It was just named one of the best places to live in the US. We've got a Trader Joe's, a Farmer's Market, and a Whole Foods and I can ride my bike pretty much everythere I need to go in town. The lifestyle here is very gracious, like something from years past, steeped in tradition. I can't imagine ever moving. My sister says my street reminds her of Wisteria Lane (minus the drama).

**IntlMom** · 11-13-2008, 09:38 AM

I gotta say I'm envious of you all that love where you live.

I have moved over 20 times in my life. The longest I ever lived any place was during high school and college (Olympia, WA - "my home"). I've lived in Iowa two times for a total of 7 yeas, and I loved the weather, the landscape, the people, and the slower pace of life. About a year ago, we moved to a small south central Kansas town, I wish I could say I love it. I do like the spring storms and the slow pace of life...but I am having a super hard time with the fact that it is the Mennonite Chruch headquarters, if you weren't born here and your family isn't Mennonite, you are an outsider, and always will be - but Iguess that;s ok, hubby doesn;t like his job, and he is starting to look for another one - we will be moving somewhere else soon - that will be at least 21 times!!!

**forHISglory** · 11-13-2008, 10:32 AM

Nichole, my inlaws were from Warsaw and buried near there. AmyBoz, we have a somewhat famous relative from Old Hopewell, NJ, who was a Rev. War hero: Col. Houghton. We visited the museum in his honor, and really liked what we saw of NJ.

I live near a small town (little less than 10,000 in the city limits) outside of St. Louis. It's very much small-town-America with a Main street and traditional housing districts. It's got great-rated schools, lots of churches and civic organizations, a good library, and a huge state park on the outskirts.

But the best thing about our town is the people. Hubby and I are people oriented, so I guess we would find good people wherever we would live, but I really believe this town is known for its compassionate and generous spirit. Walk into any fast food place or bank, etc, and you might see a collection jar set up to help a family in need. Benefit dinners, dances, auctions, etc happen all the time to help needy families. There's a great spirit of volunteerism in the community. I love the fact that I can walk into almost any business and be called by name, and asked about the family. We don't have a lot of the touristy stuff and history, but I really like living in a small friendly community.

**HisDaisy** · 11-13-2008, 11:18 AM

We just moved, so I am not sure what is special or unique about it. I do like the location, however. We are about 1 hour from the mountains and about 90 miles from the Oregon Coast.
I spent the last 9 years in Iowa, most recently in the town that Maytag built (Newton, IA). The town was built on the Washing Machine industry and nearly everyone had worked for Maytag or was related to someone who had worked there. When the plant closed it was very hard on the community.
My hometown in Tumwater, WA (in the Olympia area). Tumwater was the first American settlement north of the Columbia River. It was also home to the Olympia Brewing Company, until it closed a few years ago. I grew up hearing the 'Brewery Whistle' announcing the shift changes.

**Patty A** · 11-13-2008, 11:43 AM

I grew up and have lived in the local area here all my life. We live in a little town Price, Utah of just over 8000 people. Its a high arid desert country with an elevation of 5500 feet. We are in the valley area surrounded by beautiful mountains to the west (about 20 minutes, elevations of 10,000 feet and more)
and beautiful red rock deserts to the east. Many people visit the area as we are known for the dinosaur museum, railroad, and local dig areas of more dinosaurs bones. Many native american writings are scattered about the area and are world known to contain things found no where else on earth. It is great to have your back yard filled with wonders, to always be able to find a new area to explore.
Look at some of these,
http://www.utah.com/price/
We are a local area of coal mines and power plants. The three areas that employ the most are farming, coal mines, and power plants. The town has gone from boom to bust many times all do to the coal in the area and the amount of mines that are working.
We also locally known for the great west outlaws knows as the Wild Bunch.
The only Utah robbery was held in a little town (Helper) just 9 miles north west of here. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch hide out is the Robbers Roost is located along the Outlaw trail and many people love to go see the area looking for hidden treasure.

Some the worst coal mining disasters ever to happen has happened in our area.
The Scofield mine,(1900) and the Castle Gate mine (1924) are both in the history books from long ago, along with Wilberg 1984, and Crandall Canyon just last year.The people really show how they are at times like this and join together to help each other. These old coal mining towns are very tight knit groups and really have a bond.

Low crime, not many people, and we still have the small town ideas. Great areas to explore, rafting, hiking, ski areas, all kinds of fun things to do.
Hope this gives you some ideas on why we love the area, and why we stay.