14 Amazing Small Towns in America

At the port of the Columbia River, Hood River is home to about 7,000 people. Just 30 miles from Mount Hood, the tallest peak in the state, the city is also a haven for cyclists and museum-goers. But watch out, the city is also known for high winds and chilly temperatures. Brrr.

Catalina Island’s only city, Avalon feels more like a vacation destination than your average small town. Only accessible by boat from Southern California ports, the island is home to approximately 3,000 residents who get around via electric cars, bicycle, and golf carts.

In 1996, author Norman Crampton wrote 100 Best Small Towns in America, and Batesville made the cut. It’s the second-oldest city in Arkansas and is home to about 10,000 people. Just 80 miles south of Little Rock, one can only hope a visit would offer a Bill Clinton sighting. Or, at the very minimum, a view of where Clinton used to live.

Image via Arkansas.com

Known for its antebellum architecture, Beaufort is a town rich with Southern history and charm. Residents are proud of the area’s local flavors, such as farm-fresh cheeses, handmade crafts, and pickled pears. Yes, pears.

A gateway to fantastic downhill skiing, the nearly 19,000 residents of Durango enjoy kayaking, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and hiking in the surrounding San Juan Mountains.

Home to 4,000 residents, Dyersville was made famous when the 1989 movie Field of Dreams was shot there. The city has hosted a farm toy show at the beginning of every year, earning it the nickname “Farm Toy Capital of the World.” If you build it, they will come.

Originally mined by Native Americans, Galena was the site of the first mineral rush in the United States. And while a dip in mining saw a major dip in the city’s population, the County Fair helped bring tourism to the area. Known for its charm, Galena is a steamboat hub for the Mississippi River.

Sure, Ernest Hemingway killed himself here, but not likely because of the majestic setting. While only about 2,500 residents call Ketchum home, the town offers hiking, trail riding, tennis, and fishing.

In typical years, Lewisburg offers the chocolate festival in April and the state fair in August. And with other annual celebrations such as the Taste of Our Towns, the Lewisburg Literary Festival, and the Greenbrier Concert Series, Lewisburg is a haven for culture enthusiasts.

It’s the city made famous by the Julia Roberts movie Mystic Pizza.

Even with its 4,000 residents, Mystic has no independent government because it’s not a legally recognized municipality. But try telling that to the residents of this town, who are proud of its world-renowned aquarium and, yes, its stellar pizza.

Though just about 4,000 residents call Porter home, the city is known for its multigenerational residents. The city, which was originally settled as a Swedish town, is built in the Indiana Dunes system and is part of the National Conservancy, which has sponsored many city-wide conservation efforts.

The nearly 8,000 people who call Sebastopol homes enjoy affordable housing, quality schools, and a booming wine industry, all in the backyard of San Francisco.

Sedona is home to the famous red rocks that beckon thousands of tourists every year, but Sedona is also home to about 9,000 people. It’s known as a great place to retire, due to the climate, making Sedona the perfect place to end the “dry heat” vs. “wet heat” debate.

Originally cultivated by English colonists for rice and cotton plantations, St. Simons is now a resort community that boasts 2,000 year-round residents. Travel & Leisure called St. Simons the most romantic small town in the US and favored its “intelligent” residents. Clearly, they’re smart to live there.