essay about growing up in a small town

• Smart Living
• United States

This Is What It's Really Like Growing Up in a Small Town Where Everyone Knows Your Name

Growing up in a small town isn't everyone's dream, and it wasn't necessarily mine either, but it was my reality. I come from a town where everyone knows everyone, whether you know them personally or through a mutual friend. No trip to the grocery store is complete without running into your neighbor or someone you know from high school. I learned the "who's who" of the town at a young age, and knew that I would be surrounded by those people while I was growing up, whether I liked them or not.

As a teenager in high school, I didn't particularly care for the town I lived in and I couldn't wait to escape to college . I didn't like the fact that other people I rarely associated with probably knew everything about my personal life. I didn't appreciate when parents would gossip about their kids or their kid's friends, nor did I love when I or anyone I was close with became the center talking point. I felt trapped in my negative thoughts and desperately longed after the idea of leaving.

When it was finally time for me to pack up and move away, I felt an overwhelming amount of sadness to leave.

But as time passed I grew to appreciate little things about my hometown . I loved when the sunset turned the sky into a canvas of pinks and purples. I was excited when local events, like the seafood festival or the fair, came to town. I smiled when the cashier at the grocery store was friendly, asking how my family was doing and if I had a chance to try the new restaurant that just opened down the street.

When it was finally time for me to pack up and move away, I felt an overwhelming amount of sadness to leave. It was weird to graduate high school and say goodbye to my classmates who I quite literally grew up with. I dreaded every goodbye, no matter who I was saying it to. For the longest time I didn't understand why I felt uneasy about leaving, but now I realize that I felt emotionally confused because I planted such strong roots in the town where everyone knew my name. I knew that no matter where I lived next, this town would always be my home.

I could go on and on about how it's beneficial to leave the town you grew up in . You can't expect to experience all walks of life if you stay in the same spot forever, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't get out and explore the incredible world we live in . There's one thing about my town that makes it special, though. When I left, I realized what a strong community I had been a part of. Even though my town may not offer endless amounts of thrill and excitement, it does offer an endless amount of love and support. The sense of community that I feel when I'm home is overwhelming. Yes, everyone might know my personal business — and that does bother me at times — but that can also mean people are willing to help you out if you need it.

When I was in elementary school, my teachers and coaches were often the parents of my friends. Having these role models to look up to and listen to throughout my life made me feel safe and secure. I may not have realized it then, but I definitely realize now that the adults in my life look at me as their own. They want the best for me and my peers, and they won't ever stop encouraging me.

I don't think I would have the strong friendships I have now without growing up in my town. I've been lucky enough to call the same two women my best friends for my entire life . We grew up together, we've been with each other through thick and thin, and we've seen each other transform into the young women we are now. Without the bond I have with them, I'm not sure what my life would be like. I can think of several other people who have this same kind of bond with their friends, and it's all thanks to our home.

My small town taught me the importance of being there for each other, even when the going gets tough. The friendly faces I would see around town taught me to always be kind, no matter who I'm talking to. I learned how to be active in the community I lived in, whether it be through volunteering or supporting others in their efforts to make a difference. Most of all, I learned not to measure the significance of people by their successes in life, but instead by the consistent support and outpouring of love they offer to others. Without my small town , I wouldn't be who I am today, and I'm pretty proud of who I've become.

• Personal Essay

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How Growing Up In A Rural Community Shaped Me As A Person

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You can’t change where you come from. But what if people judge you for it? This is a series I’ve been meaning to write for a while and I think it’s more important than ever to fight for our small towns.

I keep hearing about the death of rural communities. In fact, in 2014, 54% of the world’s population lived in cities. By 2050 it’s expected that 70% of all humankind will live in a city ! I understand the why behind this, but I’ve come to really cherish my humble beginnings. It shaped me as a person.

It made me a dreamer

Growing up in a small town, a lot of people said to me, “you’ll never amount to anything.” This type of talk and small-mindedness made me think deeply about what I wanted to do with my life.

I was always a bit of a dreamer. Naturally, growing up in a rural community, everyone around me (except my grandmother and mother) would tell me to stop all this dreaming stuff and to just get a job like everyone else. But I knew I didn’t want to work where it was customary.

It forced me to become ambitious

Growing up in a working-class family forced me to be ambitious. I became obsessed with thinking of ways that would allow me to be different and make a name for myself. It hasn’t been easy and I’m not where I want to be just yet. But we’ve got many exciting new things happening at the Cadman Capital Group  and I’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks!

My parents would always take me to the city, day trips to London, etc. This is what set the fire in me if you will – and the flame hasn’t been put out yet.

It keeps me grounded

My small town values keep me grounded. Having my grandmother’s and mother’s support gave me the confidence to do what I needed to do to be successful. It helped me to pick up and leave when I was just 17 to go travel the world.

When I got back, my world experience helped start my own business. But without the support from the two of them to do what was right for me, I would have been completely lost.

The countryside is where I feel the most ‘me’

I still spend the majority of my downtime in the country. I feel the mos ‘me’ when I’m connected to nature – when I’m around water or can feel the light all around me. I spend my time fishing, walking, and thinking, which are things you really can’t do in the city.

I also understand that cities just aren’t for everyone. There’s a lot of good in small towns "“ in fact, I recently wrote a series about stimulating small business in rural areas . I touched upon why university may not be for everyone , how important trade skills are in modern society , why green is good for you , and 4 ways a small town can boost its economy .

I'm forever grateful for my experience growing up in a rural community. But most of all, for my grandmother and mother for supporting me, no matter what. I hope my children feel the same way.

Giles Cadman is Chairman of The Cadman Capital Group, a group of cohesive, complementary companies, operating in the international trade, retail, leisure, and investment markets. Learn more about Giles .

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Life-Changing Lessons Learned From Growing Up in a Small Town

Big wisdom from little places.

Growing up in a teeny-tiny community can definitely have its drawbacks. With so few people around, gossip pretty much travels at the speed of light. But it also has its perks; being raised in a tight-knit community often means feeling like your whole town is your family. And, you never have to set foot inside a big box store.

While these types of things may seem insignificant during childhood, they can actually play a significant role in shaping how we see the world as adults. To demonstrate what we mean, we partnered with Folgers Coffee , a brand that’s all about celebrating folks with can-do attitudes who care for their communities deeply. Together, we've brought you the best pearls of wisdom from small towners who embody Folger's spirit of giving back. Here’s what they had to say.

Finding “your people” is everything

When your town doesn’t have much in the way of entertainment, it’s important to learn how to make your own fun and find people who share your sense of humor. “Growing up in a small town taught me the importance of finding your people—like-minded friends who really ‘get’ you,” says Emily Farmer Popek, who grew up in Rickreall, Oregon.

“My best memories are of doing stupid, pointless things with really great people—driving around aimlessly, going to all-night diners to drink coffee, riding around in a shopping cart we found in the bushes. It didn't matter what we were doing. We just wanted to spend time together, and we always found a way to have fun.”

A tight-knit community can boost your confidence

Small towns may mean everyone knows your business, but it also means they’ll be there to support you through your triumphs and struggles. “The intrinsic value of growing up in a small community is measured by the assurance that where you live, people ‘see’ you and can call you by name,” says Bonnie McDaniel of Tucker Hill, Florida.

“You are not invisible, and the experience of having grown up surrounded by people who know you gives you a confidence that makes you walk boldly as you venture out into the world.”

Less really is more

There’s no doubt that urban areas offer more to do in the traditional sense., but small towners know that more isn’t always better.

“What I learned from my hometown was less is more,” says Janelle Ledyard of Stillwater, New Jersey. “We had less to do on paper, but we made our fun outside with fewer distractions and more creativity. There were fewer people, but that meant there were more familiar faces and deeper community roots.”

Cherishing small businesses is essential

Being intimately involved with the town’s businesses might actually influence your own career choices later on.

“My father has a woodcarving studio in our town’s small business district, Scituate Harbor, where I spent a lot of time growing up. The harbor has a strong community of small business owners,” says James Kukstis of Scituate, Massachusetts.

“Being around these people so much gave me a real appreciation for the importance of local businesses, and a drive to create things myself.”

Diversity is definitely a fantastic thing

When your hometown is so teeny you have to travel to another area for school, it gives you the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people.

“I grew up in a town which is only one square mile in size,” says Rebecca Chin of Malverne, New York. “Because it was so small, the schools from elementary to high school were combined with other towns. I grew up and went to school with such a great melting pot of people; all different races, all different backgrounds. It gave me such an understanding and appreciation for people of all walks of life that I don’t think I would have received if I lived in a larger town.”

Kindness counts

In a close-knit community, it goes without saying that everyone helps one another. And becoming compassionate as a kid will stay with you for a lifetime. “One thing you learn in a small town is how to be a good neighbor. And in a small town, everyone is your neighbor!” says Weesie Thelen of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

“You work together to celebrate milestones—weddings and baby showers, for example—and when the hard times hit, you show up with a casserole and a shoulder to cry on.”

Always be on your best behavior

With little anonymity in tiny hamlets, children learn quickly to stay on their best behavior when in public. “In a small town, there's hardly anywhere you can go without running into someone you know,” says Dalene Rovenstine of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

“You learn from a young age to be careful with what you say and do in public because even if you think no one's watching—someone probably is. As I've grown older and much of my life is lived out online, that lesson has translated well into how I behave on social media. Just like in a small town, on the internet, someone is always watching.”

Feeling inspired to give back to your hometown? See how others are working with their communities and learn more about Folger's Can-Do initiative here .

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• Nov 25, 2020

Things I Learned Growing up in a Small Town

Updated: Jan 26, 2022

Growing up in a small town has its pros and cons. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and that is okay. I struggled for many years before I discovered my authentic self and my place in the community. Despite the trials and tribulations, my small-town upbringing has taught me many valuable lessons. I often say, “What you put into the community is what you get out of it.” I have always believed that this community has helped me become who I am today. I am mountain made. (Pun totally intended.) Today, I want to share some of those lessons with you.

What you can and can’t get away with

One of the first things I learned as a child is what I could and couldn’t get away with. Not only are small towns notorious for town gossip, someone is always watching. Time and time again, I watched my peers try to get away with some rebellious act without getting caught. For example, one time a group of high schoolers ditched school to eat lunch at a local restaurant. The school clerk caught them when she walked in to pick up her lunch. Their failures taught me that doing something stupid wasn’t worth the consequences. Have pride in yourself. I don’t say something unless I am willing and able to back it up. You will receive pushback so you have to be ready to stand by your words or actions. If you don’t want the whole town talking about you, don’t give them something to talk about. Most importantly, when you do something wrong, there's no hiding it. Make your wrongs right by taking responsibility for your actions.

How to get along with people you disagree with

While I haven't completely masted this skill it is too important to leave off. Whether it’s kids at school or your bossy neighbor, in a small town, you have to learn to live with people you don’t necessarily like. Avoidance is not an option. It’s Murphy's law. You will cross paths with the one person you care not to see. The majority of us get our mail at the post office. If you don’t run into them in the post office, they will be at a community event. You already live in a small town, don't make it smaller by hiding out to avoid someone.

One thing that is overlooked, is how feuds are felt by the whole community. A big part of our culture is being a close-knit community and feuds get in the way of this. Everyone is related or best friends. Feuds put third parties in a difficult position. Sometimes it can feel like walking on thin ice while trying to remain friends with both parties in a dispute. You love them both, but inevitably one or more of the following drags you into the mess. A friend may make a negative comment about the other that makes you feel award. The tension can be felt. Socialization becomes challenging when trying to decide who to invite among the fears that one side will get an impression of favoritism. Consciously or unconsciously jealousy and competition are involved. Not to mention how much drama feuds add to the small-town rumor mill. Topped off with a game of hind and go seek around town while trying to avoid paths crossing. The bottom line is no matter how much you try to keep non affected people out of a feud, it is felt by everyone in a variety of ways. It’s all an unnecessary headache that only hurts more people. So please work things out for the sake of the community.

Giving Back Is Good for Your Soul

In small towns, especially in Julian, people show up for each other. Being a close-knit community means that everyone feels the trials and tribulations community members are going through. My community has survived multiple natural disasters, traumatic losses, and a whole host of challenging times. We get through these hard times because we come together to lend a hand. Whether it’s raising money for someone's medical treatment, giving to fill a need, or stopping to put on a spare tire for a neighbor, we do it. Small towns teach what the word "community" really means. Growing up in such a caring culture made giving second nature to me. As a young adolescent, I was really struggling to find myself. My parents pushed me to get involved in our local volunteer fire department. Almost immediately I found more confidence in myself, and the volunteer work I was doing brought new purpose into my life.

How to stand up for something you believe

In communities with smaller populations, the impacts of political decisions are felt on a more personal level. A tax increase or a school budget cut is directly felt by community members. I will never forget the morning after three of my eleven teachers received pink slips. Fortunately, local public officials are accessible. I mean like a school board member is your best friend's mom, and the local fire chief is your neighbor. This also means that it is easier to get elected to a local public office with a grassroots campaign. Throughout my childhood, I had the opportunity to participate in controversies like the battle to reopen Jess Martin Park and the battle to keep local control over fire protection. If my parents weren’t hosting the meetings at our house, they and my friends’ parents took their kids to local meetings. As early as fourth grade, I was writing letters to the editor. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, I spoke at numerous local meetings on a variety of issues. At the age of nineteen, I was elected to the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection Board of Directors. Needless to say, over my short lifetime, I have learned how to stand up for what I believe in.

In the early days, my parents taught my siblings and me a work ethic through chores like the never-ending yard work and volunteering throughout the community. One by one, as we reached our teenage years, my siblings and peers learned a true work ethic by taking a service-based job during the busy tourism season (aka Apple Days) at a local business. There’s nothing quite as intense as serving thousands of hungry visitors for an eight- to twelve-hour shift and doing so every day for five months. Did I mention the pay is minimum wage? Now that’s how we teach our youth a true work ethic.

How to entertain yourself

Living in a town with the closest mall, movie theater, theme park, or you-name-it over an hour away, entertainment was a luxury. (Side note: the internet wasn’t ubiquitous when I was a kid, but for the record, it is very unreliable in the mountains.) As kids, we spent hours outside, using our imaginations to turn our backyards into any place we could dream of. We rode bikes, built forts, and learned to hunt, and I built any toy I wished for out of cardboard. It’s crazy to think we did all of this self-education and entertainment without the internet to teach us. Still to this day, I don’t watch much TV. Maybe that’s why I have so much time to blog.

To be well-rounded

When there are only thirty students in your class and an entire high school population of 110 students, there aren't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams. So we made up the difference by double-dipping. Do you want to be on the varsity football team? Just sign up. Wanna be the yearbook editor? The volunteer position is yours. Lead in the school play? Break a leg! Moral of the story is attending a small school in a close-knit community makes you a well-rounded person. Knowing a little bit about a variety of things has come in handy for me more times than I can count. I can understand a variety of people, I have an array of experiences to bring to the table, and self-education is second nature.

To be prepared for anything.

Living a rural lifestyle, surviving multiple natural disasters, keeping myself entertained, and being well-rounded have all taught me to be prepared for anything. When you live twenty-five miles away from the closest chain business, you have to be self-sufficient. This means buying in bulk, keeping an emergency supply on hand, and knowing how to do just about anything yourself. Living in an uncontrolled environment keeps me grounded. It reminds me that a higher power is in control. When things do go awry, I am reminded of the countless blessings I have been given.

Life can be simple—and that’s okay.

The community I live in is very economically diverse. For the most part, we are made up of average Joes just living out a simple life. We really don’t need a big house, a fancy car, and the latest technology. After an hour or two stacking firewood in the cold, when you finally come inside, you really appreciate the fire. Country folk work hard, live within their means, and give back when they can. It’s a simple, old-fashioned way of life but that’s just how we like it.

How to grow where you are planted

It wasn’t until my teenage years—and even more so now in my twenties—that I really started to learn to grow where I was planted. As a young child, I was unaware of the life I would have had if I’d grown up in the city. So I lived the life I knew. In my early teens, being surrounded by peers who lived for the day they could leave made it a real struggle for me to grow where I was planted. Through lots of personal development, college experiences, and travel I was able to write my story and embrace my authentic self. Whether it is a job you hate or the town you are stuck in, we all have to do things that aren’t ideal. Being able to persevere will help get you to where you want to be. I acknowledge that small-town life isn’t for everyone. It is for me, though, and I am creating a path that allows me to live this lifestyle.

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What Growing Up In A Small Town Teaches You About Life

When I was two years old, my family moved from Cincinnati to a little town in northeast Ohio called Cortland. The realization that people only really knew Ohio for the three C’s – Cleveland, Cincinnati, or Columbus ( not Cortland!) – came quickly when I decided to go to school in central Pennsylvania. The truth is, I never considered myself “Midwestern” until I left Ohio. You’d think that people would realize that we were neighboring states, but the people at my “East Coast” school thought of Ohio as a whole different world. Half of my peers didn’t even realize I lived a mere three and a half hours away. “Do you have to fly home? Do you live on a farm? Is there even anything in Ohio worth seeing?” The questions are never-ending. I was a unicorn in their eyes, a novelty. Or, on second thought, maybe just a country hick. Don’t even get me started on the “pop” versus “soda” debate…

As I grow older, I’m more and more thankful for my small town roots. Sure, my friends and I loved to complain about how bored we were in the middle of nowhere, but as I finish up my junior year of college, I’m convinced that it took leaving our small town to realize how much we actually did love it and what exactly we loved about it.

We grew up amongst corn fields, spent summers by Mosquito Lake, and learned to ride our bike on the hill with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. We played kick ball and Red Rover in the empty lot down the street, caught snapping turtles in the creek and snakes in the shared vegetable garden behind the fence, and spent many an afternoon exploring the woods behind our houses. We counted the days until the county fair, prayed for snow days (inside out pj’s and ice cubes in the toilet, anyone?), we’re forced into corn hole competitions by our dads, never viewed burnt out headlights as anything other than padiddles, and have all run a red light at some point at one of the five stoplights in town. I might be showing my affinity toward the midwest lifestyle, but all of these things taught have taught me important life lessons.

For one, the pace of life isn ’ t anxiety provoking and people really value connecting to each other . That means that you do more than just talk to your next door neighbors – in a lot of cases, they’re truly an extension of your family. So much of this lifestyle revolves around being outside and knowing the ins and outs of the town, being present and mindful of your surroundings is a critical part of the culture. The gift of being able to grow up slowly is another invaluable treasure that I was given by my small town. Sure, there will always be a little bit of “keeping up with the Jones’,” or rather the “advanced” girls, but I never felt pressure to rush through my childhood or to act older than I was – heck, I was still playing with American Girl dolls in middle school!

As I move through my college years, I look forward to the visits to my little hometown. A huge perk has been the memories that I made with the people that I was lucky enough to know , and maybe wouldn’t have if our school district didn’t have just one building for each the elementary, middle, and high schools. There were no more than 130 kids in my public school graduating class and we had known each other since kindergarten. My life would be so different without the midwestern friendliness and hospitality that I’ve been exposed to through the years and which has acted as my compass growing up. I am grateful for the experience that I had growing up and know that wherever my next adventure takes me, I can trust my small town roots to lead me in the right direction. 

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I grew up in a small town 13 miles northwest of Boston, MA, where there was really nothing going on: no movie theatre, or any recreational center. Only a library, and a small mall, where some kids from the wrong side of the tracks hung out to shoot the breeze, but that was about it.

It wasn’t until I moved out of my small town and into the city, that I expanded my horizons and interests through meeting people of different nationalities and backgrounds, and at last had the chance to expand my viewpoint and develop interests of my own. I’m more than glad that all the happened.

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Essay about Growing Up In A Small Town

Two families who knew one another were deciding if they were going to live in the city or a small town. Both families had young children who aspired to be in the same profession, and wanted to make sure their children would grow up in the best environment as possible. One family decided to move into the city limits while the other family decided to move to a small town. Where someone lives while growing up effects their future job as an adult.

While growing up in a small town gives a child more emphasis on the social aspect, growing up in the city gives a child more emphasis on culture diversity and is given more opportunities for interactions within the society. While growing up, most children want some social atmosphere. In a small town, everyone knows everyone’s business. They know about people’s past, even when they are trying to hide it. The past will haunt the person forever if it is bad. Once a person does something they are not supposed to do, the townspeople will talk about it and possibly add a rumor to make it sound worse.

Also, because almost everyone knows each other, it is very hard to commit a crime. It would be very easy to find out who committed a crime. Therefore, the crime rates are low. The small town inhabitants care about the people who live in the same town. They want to have a safe community for all to enjoy. The people care about their friends and family to ensure there is more “togetherness” within a town. The whole town seems like it is one big family. The small-town gets together with local events or community gatherings. These events are prime to the small-town social life.

It brings everyone together, which is necessary for the small community. The togetherness brings joy and future generations continue the tradition. Tradition is crucial to a small town because it gives the townspeople a sense of belonging to the community. Growing up in the city is very different from growing up in a small town. The social atmosphere is similar but seem polar opposite. Growing up in the city, not everyone knows you. The people who you see on a daily basis, like at school or work, know you well, or sometimes barely know you.

Nowadays, people who live in the city limits do not even know their neighbors. There is a lack of communication and desire to know people within the city. Also, crimes are more likely to be committed in the city due to the fact not a lot of people know who the person is, therefore, it takes longer the police and community longer to find the culprit. The local news mostly takes up what crimes have been committed and if law enforcement has caught them or not. The people care about their friends and family, but not to the same extent.

Families and friends come together at particular times, for example, birthdays and holidays. People in the city limits are always busy due to work, taking care of their children, and other daily events. In a city, local events and gatherings still occur but are not as popular with everyone. Each event focuses on certain culture, like music and film festivals are for the artsy or “hipster” crowd. Cultural diversity is quite large in the city. Different cultures gather in the city because of the jobs that are offered.

Due to this, children are exposed to different people and adapt to their ways. Children and adults who live in the city do not necessarily have to agree with every culture’s way of life; they only need to know that the cultures are out there. When the children grow up in a city with different cultures, they will be ready for their adult life to contain several cultures or a particular type of culture. When one learns about the cultures, they have a sense of awareness that surrounds them. People begin to feel open to others, no matter what they believe or who they are as an individual.

This allows one person to be their own individual, to create their own identity. Being an individual also creates privacy because not everyone will like who others are and what they believe in, so this gives space between two or more individually different people. In a small town, the culture is the same, the people are country-like or farmers. Being of the same culture means they are not exposed to other cultures. When they are exposed to a new culture, they are a culture shocked. The small-town people might not know how to react to those who are different from them.

Everyone within the small town must be the same in a way because if not, then they will be treated as an outsider. When people from the small town go to a city because of particular needs, the trip can be very stressful. A large amount of cultures in the city can make it difficult for the small town people. With a small amount of culture diversity in a town, fewer options created. In small towns, there is not a lot to do. The town only has the necessities: a food market, a gas station, a small diner, and sometimes they have their school for the children.

If the town is too small, the children will have to go to the town closest to them that have schools. Small towns lack interactions within society. Yes, small towns do have their traditional gatherings and local events, but they are not as many as the city. In the city, there are endless amounts of interactions. Due to the cultural differences, opportunities, like events, festivals, and gatherings, appear more. Each opportunity represents the different cultures and can be for anybody, but not for everyone. The interactions always give people something to do.

It allows the person to get out of the house and enjoy life, meeting new people, and even understanding other cultures. When growing up, where the child lives affects their future job as an adult. When a child grows up in a small town, it gives the child more emphasis on the social aspect, while growing up in the city gives the child more emphasis on culture diversity and is given more interactions within society. When the two families parted, they believed they made the right decision for their child. Each family knew the pros and cons of where they were going to live, but they were going to make the best for themselves.

When the child who was a part of the family who moved to the small town, grew up, they were very timid, and not successful due to the fact of the cultural differences within the workplace. The adult did not know how to react to them and had troubles working for or with them. The adult who grew up in a small town knew how to talk to others who were like him. The adult who grew up in the city was more successful than the adult who grew up in a small town. The adult who grew up in the city knew how to work with his coworkers because no matter how many cultures there were in one room, he knew how to react to them.

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The Benefits of Living in a Small Town

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Published: Sep 12, 2023

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Sense of community, lower cost of living, less traffic and pollution, safe and family-friendly, quality of life, closer to nature, less stress and more space.

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20 Benefits of Living in a Small Town as a 20-Something

• November 6, 2014

I read “ Why Millennials Are Avoiding Small-Town America ” a few weeks ago about how we gravitate more toward metropolitan areas after college. My story is the opposite even though I started out as one of those starry-eyed students destined for big adventures in the city.

My hometown has less than 17,000 people. We have one Starbucks, no shopping mall and Kmart instead of Wal-Mart or Target. Despite its small size, I didn’t feel trapped or limited in opportunities growing up. I participated in school plays, choir, track, tennis and competitive dance. I attended cooking classes and movie nights hosted by the recreation and park district.

When I graduated from high school, I admit I was ready to leave. I wanted to move on to bigger things, whatever those might be. I spent four years attending college in Los Angeles County and one semester in Washington, D.C. I got my taste of big-city life, but I can’t say the quality of life was any better.

Here are 20 benefits of living in a small town as a 20-something.

1. Shorter commutes and less time stuck in traffic. It takes only seven minutes to drive from one end of my town to the other, which is how long my commute is to work. That means I can go home on my lunch hour and see my husband if he’s home.

2. Smaller churches = more intimacy. There might not be as many ministry opportunities or small groups, but there’s a greater chance of knowing the majority of people who join you in worship every week.

3. Cross-church community. Churches in my town get together every so often for “Fifth Sunday Sings.” It’s a worship night hosted by a different church every time, and all church goers are invited to participate

4. Slower pace of life means a more Sabbath-like lifestyle and higher quality of life.

5. Low crime levels create a safe environment for raising a family.

6. Chances are better you know your neighbors — and maybe the entire block. We had the same neighbors while I was growing up, and for the most part, the neighborhood still has all the same families it did 20 years ago.

7. Small-town hospitality. We live in a small apartment complex, and when we took our new neighbors cookies the night they moved in, they talked to us like they already knew us.

8. More support, less competition. Local businesses might not always thrive, but they don’t suffer from as much name brand competition. Around here, the saying is “Shop Local, Support Local.”

9. Quirky traditions. My town hosts an annual Horned Toad Derby parade and carnival. They don’t race horses or cars, but horned toads. While it’s a unique event, it brings the whole town together.

10. Movies don’t always sell out opening night. It’s nice to have your choice of seats at a showing of a popular movie and not have to worry about purchasing your tickets in advance.

11. Lower cost of living. When I was in college, I was amazed that the average rent of a studio or one-bedroom apartment was at least $1000 per month. In my town, you can rent a two-bedroom for $600.

12. Less temptation to spend money . While there’s always online shopping, small towns tend not to have name-brand stores, so there’s not as much temptation to overspend.

13. “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.” Small towns are great for community where most people know each other.

14. It’s easy to get involved. Fewer people in a town means fewer volunteers, which also means more opportunities to lend a hand and volunteer . You won’t likely be turned away if you offer to help.

15. Fewer things to do means freedom to do more. While there aren’t as many places to hang out or events to attend, you have more time to pick up a hobby or learn a new skill and really work at it.

16. Art appreciation. Small towns are known for artisans and musicians, and local talent doesn’t go unnoticed. Mine even hosts a few craft fairs and boutiques throughout the year.

17. More opportunities. While people might think there are fewer opportunities in small towns, there is less competition to do what you love. I was on the newspaper staff in high school and was picked up as a freelancer by the local newspaper my senior year. I wrote for them until I got my first full-time job a year ago. It was work experience I could add to my resume that others didn’t have.

18. Traditional values. Small towns tend to have a certain way of doing things, and values are more ingrained. People expect you to be more polite and respectful. My town has a lot of churches for its size, and there is a heavy emphasis placed on family and traditional values.

19. You can exercise outside the gym. Runners benefit in small towns that have less traffic, few stoplights and hardly any interruptions.

20. It’s easy to stay informed. While my town only has a weekly newspaper as its news source, everyone is a reporter. If something big happens, you know about it. My town has a Facebook group page where people constantly post events, lost pets and items for sale. If some crime or accident happens, you only have to wait a matter of seconds for someone to fill in the gaps.

I think I took small towns for granted while I was growing up, but now, I appreciate them for what they are. I go out of town once a month or so for major shopping trips, but otherwise, I have what I need right here: family, a close-knit community and small town charm.

The appeal of any city depends on the benefits it offers. When considering a move after graduation or a move in general, spiritual growth and quality of life should be at the top of your list. For me, small towns offer the best of both.

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About the author.

Amy Kessler interned with the Boundless team in 2011 and is a journalism graduate from Biola University with a minor in biblical studies. She has experience in newspapers, magazines, blogging, social media and online content management. Amy lives in California where she works as a marketing assistant for a community college district and blogs about her spiritual life. She enjoys playing tennis, experimenting with HTML, and discussing marriage and relationships.

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The Pros And Cons Of Raising Kids In A Small Town

For the first 13 years of our parenting journey, we raised our kids in large cities — Phoenix and Chicago, to be exact.

When our oldest was almost 14 and our youngest was 5, we moved to a college town with a population of 30,000 — more than two-thirds of whom are students — in the middle of vast acreages of farmland. The closest largish city is an hour and a half away. While our new home is not a one-stoplight town, it’s definitely a sea change from Chicagoland.

I was excited but nervous about the move. I spent my early childhood in a tiny town , and my husband was raised in a town of 7,000. Frankly, the cons of our small town experiences seemed to greatly outweigh the pros.

However, not all towns are created equal, and the small town we chose has a lot more to offer than the towns where we grew up. After living here two years, I’ve discovered some great things about raising kids in a small town, along with some things I’d change if I could.

First, the pros of raising kid in a small town:

It was a little bizarre to move to a town where half of my friends don’t lock their doors when they leave the house. Not that they shouldn’t, but they don’t feel the need to. I also have some friends who’ve lived here their whole lives who don’t lock their cars and will even leave their keys sitting in the car. Bad things can happen anywhere, but compared to even the relatively safe Chicago suburbs, crime is really, really low here. It’s a nice luxury.

I didn’t realize how much time and energy we spent in Chicago dealing with traffic. We can drive from one end of our town to the other in 10 minutes. There’s another town 15 minutes away that has more stores and restaurants, and we drive 30 minutes to another town to get to Costco. But we never sit in traffic. Rush hour here is more like rush 15-minutes, and it basically means you might not make it through a green light on the first go. We never have to plan for traffic. It’s awesome.

We had a lot of family, friends, and acquaintances in Chicago, but they were spread out throughout the city and suburbs. A cohesive sense of close community was sort of lacking. There was a larger big city identity, but there’s something about the “Oh, I know so-and-so who can help you out with that” small town networking that’s quite lovely. Even in our college town that has a lot of transient residents, there’s a community feel that’s palpable.

I was concerned about leaving the limitless number of activities the big city offered, but it turns out there’s a silver lining to narrowing the possibilities. Life is simpler with less. Having fewer museums, parks, restaurants, extracurriculars, etc. to choose from is actually refreshing. Less decision fatigue, more simple outings — it’s nice.

And the inevitable cons of raising kids in a small town:

Lack of Diversity

We live in a university town, which brings a level of cultural diversity that would not be here otherwise. So we’re not totally bereft. However, it’s still limited compared to the vast diversity one finds in a big city. Without the college here, our town would be quite homogenous. I don’t want my kids to grow up with one or two token friends of other races and backgrounds. Diversity is extremely important to us, so we purposely seek out cultural activities at the university that help broaden their view of the world.

Fewer Opportunities

I know I said that fewer choices made life simpler and that this is a good thing. Overall, it is. But I do feel bad when my kids express an interest in a sport or activity that our town simply doesn’t offer. We can track down most things, but not everything. Want to be a trapeze artist? Too bad, kid. Want to go to the opera? That’s a 90-minute drive. Major concerts? Five hours away.

Missing the City

There really is something magical about a big city. As much as I don’t miss the crowds and traffic, I do sometimes miss seeing the Chicago skyline lit up at night. I miss spending a whole day exploring the city and barely scratching the surface of it. I miss the hustle and bustle of downtown, the breathtaking architecture, the creative energy of humanity vibrating through it all. It was always so exciting to take the kids train into the city with our kids.

Less Complexity

Simplicity has an important place in kids’ lives. But then again, so does complexity. Sometimes I think about the things our kids are missing out on — learning to navigate public transportation, exposure to world-class arts and cultural experiences, witnessing and understanding economic disparity, and more — and I wonder if we are doing our kids a disservice by taking them away from the complexities of city life.

Then again, as with everything else on this list, there are trade-offs. It’s almost impossible to find a place that offers everything one might want for their children; each city or town has its bonuses and its pitfalls. I am thankful to have raised kids in a metropolis as well as a small town so that we are at least aware of how our kids are benefiting and what they’re missing out on.

I don’t think either choice is superior. No matter where we live, we can make sure our kids are getting the most out of where they live. We can teach them to bloom where they are planted, and also expose them to different ways of life. We can help them build the skills to thrive wherever they end up after they leave home. And whether it’s in a big city or a small town, we can give them a welcoming home they can always come back to.

Since the pandemic, young adults have fueled the revival of small towns and rural areas

• Hamilton Lombard

In July 1979, President Carter nominated Paul Volcker to be Chair of the Federal Reserve with the task of ending one of the worst periods of inflation in the country’s history. In order to achieve this goal, the Federal Reserve steadily raised interest rates to historic levels, reaching 20 percent in 1981. Though Volcker ultimately succeeded in reducing inflation, it had many side effects. The ensuing recession, a strong dollar, and tax reforms accelerated the transition of the U.S. economy from manufacturing to a service-based economy. Manufacturing jobs, which peaked at 19.5 million in 1979, fell to under 11.5 million during the pandemic, while employment in finance and professional and business services soared from 12 million to 32 million. This economic shift brought with it a demographic realignment, with population growth concentrating in large metros where service industries thrived. While it remains uncertain whether we are now witnessing another such shift, Census data released over the summer shows that the demographic trends that have persisted this decade are unlike any seen since before 1980.

In the decades prior to 2020, large metro areas drew an increasing share of young adults

In the decades that followed 1980, America’s large cities and metro areas grew more economically and demographically different from its small towns and rural areas. Unlike manufacturing plants, most white-collar service industries tended to cluster in the largest cities, such as Washington D.C. or San Francisco, where employers and employees  could benefit from large networks of expertise and the rapid exchange of ideas . The influx of young white-collar workers into large cities since 1980, meant that in the following decades nearly 80 percent of the country’s growth in its under 45 population has been concentrated in metro areas with over a million residents. In contrast, in rural counties and small metro areas, the total population of those younger than 45 is smaller today than in 1980.

The migration of young adults to large metro areas for higher paying service jobs slowed the aging of many urban counties while it accelerated the aging of most of the rural counties they left behind. In Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., the median age rose by just 2 years between 1980 and 2019, while in more than a third of Virginia’s counties, it increased by over 15 years. In 1980, the median age in 1,800 U.S. counties was within five years of each other; by 2019, this number had dropped to 1,342 as rural counties aged faster than the rest of the country.

During the 2010s, the share of young adults moving from small towns and rural counties into large metro areas continued to increase, reaching its highest point in over half a century. In Arlington County, this influx led its population of 25- to 44– year-olds to grow faster than any other county within the country’s twenty largest metro areas. The migration of young adults from rural to urban areas caused communities to become increasingly unbalanced demographically. During the 2010s, Arlington County had six times as many residents between the ages of 25 and 44 as those over 65 years of age whereas in rural counties, the population over 65 frequently exceeded the population between 25 and 44. In Highland County, along Virginia’s western border, its population over 65 was twice the size of those between 25 and 44. As the 2010s progressed, the demographic and economic trajectories of most rural and urban regions appeared to be heading in different directions, increasing the divide between them.

Heading into the 2020s, the demographic divide between large cities and rural areas was expected to widen further as the labor supply tightened and large metro areas intensified their efforts to sustain workforces. Since 2007, the number of births in the U.S. has steadily declined meaning that after 2025, even if the country experienced a baby boom this year, the number of Americans turning 18 will continue to decline at least until the 2040s. In a competition for a shrinking supply of young workers, large metro areas were positioned to continue attracting the large majority of young workers.  

Since 2020, small towns and rural areas have become the top destination for people moving within the U.S.

So far the 2020s have turned out very differently than any recent decade. The 2023 county population estimates released by the Census Bureau this spring showed that last year migration rose in small towns and rural counties, making them the top destination within the U.S. The 2023 age estimates, which the Census Bureau released over the summer, show that most of the growth that small towns and rural areas have experienced since 2020 is being driven by growth in their population of 25- to 44– year-olds.  Perhaps the most striking statistic within the 2023 age estimates is the fact that since 2020, the country’s small towns and rural areas have been attracting younger adults at the highest rate in nearly a century. Since 2020, two-thirds of growth in the 25 to 44 population has occurred in metro areas with fewer than one million residents or in rural counties, a stark contrast to the last decade, when 90 percent of this growth was concentrated in the largest metro areas with over four million residents. Instead of returning to pre-pandemic trends, the migration of younger adults into rural counties and metro areas with under a quarter million residents accelerated last year.

The scale of the demographic shift since the last decade is remarkable. During the first three years of the 2010s, only 27 percent of counties in rural and small metro counties saw an increase in their 25 to 44 population. So far this decade, that figure has risen to 63 percent, even though the country’s 25 to 44 population grew at a similar rate in both time periods. In rural counties where the younger half of the workforce continues to shrink, the economy often remains tied to an industry with declining employment, such as coal mining in Southern Appalachia or oil drilling in North Dakota’s Bakken Basin. Many of these counties also lack the natural amenities that attract young adults. This decade, the 25 to 44 population has declined in counties with the lowest  USDA natural amenity scores , which are determined based on each county’s landscape and climate. On the other hand, in rural, often remote counties with high amenity scores, like Chaffee County in the Colorado Rockies and Union County in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, the younger workforce has grown at twice the national rate. 

Just as younger adults have increasingly migrated to rural counties with high natural amenities, the incomes of new residents in these areas have risen sharply since the pandemic.  IRS data from 2021 and 2022 shows that in counties with the highest natural amenity scores, incomes of new residents have grown three times faster than the national average since 2018 and 2019. In contrast, counties with the lowest scores saw income grow at only half the national rate. In Virginia’s remote Allegheny Highlands, Highland County saw a 68 percent increase in new residents’ incomes after 2020, the third highest in Southern Appalachia. Neighboring Bath County, with the highest natural amenity score in Virginia, experienced the largest income growth among new residents in Southern Appalachia. 

Zoom towns may have appeared to be a temporary pandemic trend experienced by a few small towns, but the ongoing growth in young adult populations in most rural counties and the accompanying rise in incomes among new residents suggest that remote work and a tight labor market are continuing to allow many workers to have far more geographic flexibility in where they live. This shift has coincided with increased economic activity in many rural counties and small towns. Between 2019 and 2023, IRS applications to start new businesses in the country’s smallest metro areas and rural counties increased 13 percent faster than in other parts of the country. Counties with higher USDA amenity scores saw the most significant growth in new business applications. In Virginia, rural communities along the Chesapeake Bay led the state with a 33 percent faster increase in new business applications compared to the state average, followed by Southwest Virginia at 21 percent. In contrast, counties in Northern Virginia, the state’s wealthiest and most populous region, saw slower growth in business applications.

Although the pandemic and the explosion in remote work in 2020 accelerated migration to small towns and rural counties , several underlying trends were already contributing to a broad transformation of much of small town and rural America. By 2017, rural counties had begun to attract more residents aged 25 to 44 than they were losing, reversing earlier declines. Meanwhile, in high-cost metro areas such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Jose, their younger workforce had already begun contracting before 2020. Although median incomes for younger adults only recovered to pre-recession levels in 2017, the booming economy of the late 2010s made moving further from major job centers more financially feasible. Rising housing prices in large metro areas also made more affordable small towns increasingly attractive. In 2022, the homeownership rate for adults aged 25 to 44 in small towns and rural counties was only 2 percent below its 2005 level, while in larger metros, it remained 8 percent below 2005 levels. 

As workforce growth stalls, attracting young adults will grow more vital for communities

The exodus of younger adults from most large metro areas since the pandemic has tightened their labor supply, making it harder for many companies to expand or fill vacant positions. This labor shortage is expected to worsen after 2025 as the number of Americans turning 18 begins a multi-decade long decline. In the long term, the sharp decline in birth rates in urban counties will further strain their labor force. An analysis of Census Bureau 2023 Age Estimates by the Economic Innovation Group showed that the out-migration of families and lower birth rates have caused the population under age five in large urban counties to shrink twice as fast as the rest of the country since 2020.  Arlington County, Virginia, has experienced one of the sharpest drops in its 25 to 44 population among urban counties since the pandemic, coinciding with a 24 percent decline in births since 2015, compared to less than 7 percent in the rest of Virginia. Although most small towns and rural counties have seen their labor force stabilize from an influx of younger adults, after 2025 the steady decline in the number of Americans turning 18 will make it more difficult for the workforce to grow in every part of the country. 

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. workforce was set to undergo a transformation as the number of 18-year-olds began to decline after 2025. While the pandemic didn’t change this trajectory, it does appear to have significantly reordered which regions will be most affected by a tightening labor supply and which will attract workers. If remote work remains much more widespread than before 2020 and labor markets stay tight, the 2020s are likely to offer workers more geographic flexibility than in any recent decade. The Census Age Estimates suggest that communities with enticing amenities (particularly affordable housing) rather than only major job centers, will continue to attract younger adults—a marked departure from previous trends.

Five days in Ohio: False immigrant rumors threaten to unravel an American town on the upswing

Residents say the town’s economic upswing has come with growing pains, and its comeback story has been overshadowed by lies about its Haitian population.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — It was meant to be an event to help heal the community.

Instead, Haitian residents and advocates were confronted by a small group of frustrated Springfield residents and at least one right-wing provocateur Saturday evening outside the local Haitian Community Help & Support Center.

Shouting nearly escalated into a skirmish when a group not affiliated with the Haitian community showed up outside the event, which was canceled hours before and held online out of security concerns. They questioned why so many immigrants had moved into Springfield “illegally,” a claim that city officials have repeatedly said is not true.

Haitian residents and people who had gathered to support them de-escalated the confrontation shortly before police arrived.

“It’s just so frustrating,” Colin Barclay, who is white and has lived in Springfield since 2015, said, moments after arriving at the church to help defuse the situation. “You can tell people the truth, ‘This is what’s going on,’ and unless it fits their narrative, they’re just, you know, they’re not going to listen to it.”

Springfield is a town on edge. It’s been five days since it was thrust into the national spotlight by baseless — and to many, racist — rumors of Haitian residents killing and eating wildlife and pets, and its economic comeback has been dramatically overshadowed by tensions that once rarely reached beyond city council meetings. The city has been forced to close schools, City Hall and other municipal buildings because of bomb threats and safety fears tied to the rumors, and Haitian immigrants are afraid to leave their homes because of anger directed at them.

On Saturday, nearby Wittenberg University canceled all on-campus activities for the following day after receiving a threat of a potential shooting targeting the Haitian community.

Mayor Rob Rue says the city of nearly 59,000 is being “torn apart” by hate and vitriol.

“There has been a lie that’s been posted and said about Springfield, and then it’s been repeated, double repeated and triple repeated, and we’d like that to stop,” he said Saturday.

Still, JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee and senator who was born about 50 miles outside of Springfield, doubled down on these false claims on NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday , while also appearing to acknowledge on CNN that he used the rumors to bring attention to immigration.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.

Like other Rust Belt communities, Springfield suffered from years of job losses that ate away at its economic base as well as its shared identity. Now, it’s one of many towns across the U.S. that are enjoying a resurgence. The return of manufacturing jobs has reinvigorated the area, though not without some growing pains.

“The real story is that for 80 years we were a shrinking city, and now we’re growing,” said Carl Ruby, a longtime resident and senior pastor at Central Christian Church. “There is a workforce here just waiting.”

That story, however, is not the one that has made national headlines or turned it into an election season flashpoint. Springfield’s story took a sudden turn on Tuesday when Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump called the city out by name on TV in front of tens of millions of Americans and repeated the lies about the Haitian community.

The situation has made Springfield the scene of a particularly modern tale: Facts, data, rumors, half-truths, memes and misinformation filtered through a fractured media environment and hyperpolarized politics have created a warped picture of a city that had been on the upswing.

Now, the local Haitian population is living in fear.

“I just tell the fellow Haitians just to be careful when they go out — just make sure that they go into places that are safe,” said James Fleurijean, a Haitian immigrant who moved to Springfield four years ago.

A town in Ohio

It’s hard to get much more capital-A American than Springfield, Ohio. Even the city name conjures up a certain Norman Rockwell sensibility, sharing it with almost three-dozen other cities across the U.S.

Brick buildings surround a revitalized downtown area dotted with new businesses, including a recently opened Mexican restaurant that had a line down the block on Friday night. Single-family homes are spread through the city on a grid filled with old manufacturing plants and new factories.

Previous waves of immigrants drawn to Springfield in the late 19th and early 20th centuries arrived when it was a manufacturing mecca, with jobs that enabled new arrivals to quickly become U.S. citizens and propelled businesses to flourish. By 1960, Springfield’s population peaked at 82,000, according to U.S. census records.

Betty Jones, who moved to Springfield from Kentucky in 1963 with her coal miner husband, recalls there were “jobs aplenty” when they arrived. She worked as a secretary at a company that manufactured helicopter parts, and her husband was a scheduler at a hydraulics plant. He was laid off at the age of 50, she said, and it took him years to find work again.

“Those were lean times,” Jones said. “When the jobs left, the people left.”

Jones estimates some 13 factories went out of business since she moved to the area. She remembers a row of them on either side of Sheridan Avenue on the east side of town.

The deindustrialization in the 1980s under then-President Ronald Reagan hastened the exodus of good-paying manufacturing jobs to other countries, forcing many Springfield residents to search for greener pastures.

By 2011, Springfield was declared the “unhappiest city” in the U.S. by Gallup pollsters.

But Springfield’s fortunes appear to be on the rise. New housing is cropping up throughout the city. Businesses are opening, and downtown Springfield after dark is growing more lively.

Jones credits some of the revitalization to the Haitians and other immigrants.

“I see jobs now that weren’t available,” she said. “I feel good because I see things happening again in my community.”

Boom, bust, and boom again

Springfield has more recently made headlines of late for outlandish reasons, but in many ways the city is representative of wider national trends. It’s a once-prosperous place that is still getting back on its feet, a phenomenon that was felt across the Midwest starting in the 1980s.

That renewed prosperity and the ensuing population growth has meant strains on local infrastructure, health care and schools.

From 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians who fled political turmoil and violence in their home country have landed in Springfield over the past five years, arriving in the U.S. under a federal humanitarian program for migrants, according to the city . Others are in the U.S. on tourist visas and green cards.

“Many of them were professionals, ​​medical doctors, attorneys, teachers, engineers, you name it,” said Sophia Pierrelus, an immigration advocate who left the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince nearly two decades ago. “Culture shock happens for both Americans and Haitians.”

Jims Denis moved to Springfield five years ago after hearing about the low cost of living from his brother, who had already relocated to the city from Haiti. Denis and his family secured tourist visas through his father, who worked at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, he said.

Denis, who now has a green card that allows him to live and work in the U.S. permanently, owns three homes in Springfield, including two that he rents out for extra income. He also has two jobs, working as an electronics technician and operating a photography studio in Springfield. His wife is in nursing school.

“I came here and worked very hard for what I have,” he said. “I live below my means and I invest. But people think Haitians aren’t smart enough to do what I do.”

He said when he arrived in Springfield, it was a “dead city” of abandoned buildings and vacant lots. When more immigrants started to move in, he saw an opportunity for Springfield to grow into a place where he and his young family could rebuild their lives. 

Up until a few weeks ago, Denis and his wife spent their free time riding their bikes around town or taking their young children to the park. Now his wife is afraid to leave their home and is pleading with him to move.

There are some in the community who hope people like Denis do move.

Bill Monaghan, a Springfield resident who helps manage a Facebook page called “Stop the Influx Into Springfield, Ohio,” said Haitian immigration has been “disastrous for the working class and the working poor.”

Rent has increased as some landlords see an opportunity to charge per person rather per household, a claim supported by several immigration advocates and local renters.

Waits at the local health care clinic and the department of motor vehicles have also increased, and wait times for emergency services are taking longer, he said.

“It’s just entirely too many people all at once,” Monaghan told NBC News. “People are losing their housing to migrants. The roads are becoming unsafe.”

Local officials acknowledge that the sudden arrival of so many immigrants has put a strain on local services as the city struggles to keep up with increased demand on health care and housing.

The school district and other key departments have hired Creole speakers and interpreters, but more are needed, they said. Even driving instructors are in short supply.

“We are going through very bad growing pains,” said Denise Williams, president of the Springfield NAACP chapter.

Local politics go national

What might have remained a local or even regional issue has since become one of the most hotly debated topics in this election cycle.

The efforts of Monaghan and other local residents to draw attention to Springfield’s issues found some success with conservative pundits and politicians, and it became one of the many places mentioned in relation to the challenges posed by immigration. The town was known in part because of a deadly crash last year when a Haitian immigrant driving a minivan collided with a school bus, killing 11-year-old passenger Aiden Clark. Another 23 children were injured.

Vance and other Trump supporters seized on the tragedy to attack Haitian immigrants, which Aiden’s parents, Nathan and Danielle Clark , denounced this week at a City Hall forum.

“I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man,” the grieving dad said. “I bet you never thought anyone would say something so blunt, but if that guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone.”

Clark’s pleas were not heeded, and his family’s story soon fell out of the headlines. That night, Trump would mention Springfield at the presidential debate and anti-immigrant rhetoric escalated to new heights.

Denis said he sympathizes with longtime Springfield residents who may feel they are being displaced, but he won’t be intimidated.

“I understand the frustration,” he said. “What I don’t agree with is the lies. It’s pure evil.”

Alicia Lozano reported from Springfield, and Corky Siemaszko from New York. Yamiche Alcindor contributed reporting from Springfield.

Alicia Victoria Lozano is a California-based reporter for NBC News focusing on climate change, wildfires and the changing politics of drug laws.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.