Welcome to our town: Revitalizing rural America

Kristen Sindelar
Dec 5, 2023
Dec 5, 2023

Small town (2).JPG — Christmas decorations adorn East Fourth Street in Colton, S.D. A recent survey of Nebraska youth found that the majority of young people prefer to stay in a small town and find no stigma in deciding to do so. The shortage of small town houses signifies that they are popular places to be, a Minnesota sociologist says.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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You won’t see many for sale signs in the yards of houses in small towns, but it’s not for the reasons you presume.

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Small town (1).JPG — Signs hang in downtown Hartford, S.D., announce the annual Hartford Hometown Christmas.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Revitalizing rural America 2.JPG — The majority of youth who participated in the Greater Nebraska Youth Survey this past year think that the ideal community to live in is “small like my hometown.”
Image from Greater Nebraska Youth Survey, Nebraska Community Foundation

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Small town (6).JPG — Hartford, S.D., celebrates the season with city wide decorations, including this one at the city park.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Small town (5).JPG — Due to area growth, a new elementary school opened in Crooks, S.D., in 2023.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Revitalizing rural America 1.jpg — Small towns that are welcoming tend to maintain new residents.
Submitted photo

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.