Small town living versus big city life
People have different dreams when it comes to where they will live. Many people just want to find an area that is comfortable to them. There are many options to choose from when looking to plant roots. The two most common places to select are small towns and big cities and the characteristics can be worlds apart. I grew up in Pine City, a smaller town north of the Twin Cities that offers charm and a relaxed feel. After graduating high school, I moved to the Twin Cities to explore my options outside of a small town. I have had experience with both of these “worlds” and I prefer a small, quaint town above a bustling big city. The place we choose to plant our roots should fit us like a glove fits our hand;
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To hop in the car and take a drive was somewhat of a challenge. There were far more cars on the road making that laid back drive feel like the Indy 500. I found more people in a rush to get to the grocery store and the hurried method made no sense to me; after all it was groceries not an emergency. Taking a drive past a park and seeing a few people enjoying the beautiful scenery set aside in the busyness that was the Twin Cities, was baffling. Interacting with nature and enjoying the outdoors was something the residents of the Twin Cities seemed to overlook. Another essential trait that draws me to a small town similar to the one I grew up in, is human connection. People tend to stand in the middle of an aisle or at the register and chat at the local supermarket. Now some may think that those who were conversing could possibly be gossiping, but that was typically not the case. People were generally invested in finding out how that individual and their family was doing. Individuals were taking the time to get to know members of the community to show support and respect. Pine City was one big family and, yet it was a bit of a nuisance to have others know things about you, but the idea primarily brought comfort. It made me feel that people cared about what was going on in my life and it was humbling to know how intimately connected everyone
...or present day cities Canada. Repeatedly there have been works of research that supports the idea that people are beginning to have the want and the need to live an area where there is walkability and convenience. From the perspective of a Millennial as society likes to call my generation, having the option to walk instead of drive is something to heavily consider when choosing a place to call home. The evidence as why people are moving is in a way demographically self-explanatory, a poor person would want to move from a city where crime is high, there is little to no property to invest in, and the schools seems are bad , to a place that boasts the opposite attributes.
People will be more willing and capable of living in denser, more efficient environments only when the underlying culture that sustains sprawl is altered. The sense of the American community needs to be re-established if there is to be any real progress in the battle against sprawl. The REAL problem here then, is that changing the culture of a state, of a nation, is a very long and difficult undertaking…
I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I lived in a very welcoming neighborhood. As a child, I had many friends on my street. We would ride bikes, climb trees, visit the playground at the local park district, and stay outside until the streetlights turned on. The families on my street always looked out for each other, so we didn't worry too much about safety. All of my friends attended the same school and participated in the Chicago Park District's activities such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, music and dance lessons, and open gym events. The park district hosted an annual gym show so the kids could perform for their families. Residents would get together on most Sundays to talk about issues in the neighborhood and share meals and stories.
New urbanism evokes a community that promotes walkability, connectivity, diversity, sustainability, green transportation, increased density, and a higher quality of life (New Urbanism, n.d). Mixed housing adds to socio-economic diversity and builds on community sustainability through balance. A community center adds interconnectivity and a sense of belonging. An area that promotes walkability with local conveniences and outdoor space promotes a healthier lifestyle. These are the some of the main components that Prairie Crossing, Illinois included in their community plan that offers a better quality of life.
Many folks go their whole lives without having to move. For them it is easy; they know the same people, have loads of friends, and never have to move away from their families. As with me, I was in a different situation. I grew up my entire life, all eighteen years of it, in a small town called Yorktown, Virginia. In my attempt to reach out for a better life style, my girlfriend and I decided we were going to move to Shreveport, Louisiana. Through this course of action, I realized that not two places in this country are exactly alike. I struggled with things at first, but I found some comforts of home here as well.
The world I grew up in was small, a close-knit rural area without street lights or sidewalks. Doors were left unlocked and everyone knew each other and, more likely than not, was kin to each other. Men gathered at the store every morning for coffee and news, families went to church picnics and family reunions. Everyone was Catholic and (almost) everyone went to church on Sunday. When the neighbor’s son was arrested and when the school bus driver was diagnosed with cancer, everyone knew. When a family was faced with medical bills they couldn’t afford, there would be a benefit at the church gym; everyone would donate what they could and enjoy dancing, eating, and drinking into the night. Every Saturday my mom and grandma and I would ride 20 minutes into town; groceries from Kroger, a quick stop at the post office and the library, then to Wendy’s for fries and hamburgers. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this quiet little town and the people that lived there would forever influence me, and the person I would become.
I was born in Houston, Texas, and for that reason it has always been a home to me. Even though I love the quiet life of a small town (like Burns Flat, where I attend school), the lights and skylines of a big city have always stood for a lot of ideals that I hold very true to my heart. Opportunity, growth, and pride are just a few of these ideals that reflect not only how I feel about cities, but also how I view myself. I spend my summers and holidays in Christmas every year with my dad, my stepmom, and my stepsiblings and their friends, who I spend most of my summer hanging out with.
Even though my grandparents did not live in a big city, it was a fun small town. A town that was so small, it only had one traffic light. Everybody knew everybody. It was a real country town, but I loved it. Well, I use to love it. That’s how I used to feel about it until it happened.
Small towns are looked down upon and criticized because they are small; however, they might be the best town of all. All of the people who reside there are thoughtful of one another, care for their neighbor, and their family. Small towns have good cultural values of what is considered good, desirable, and proper (Schaefer 2016:63). Residents feel like they are a part of something bigger than the town. People who grow up in small towns have better morals, give more athletic opportunities to children, and have a sense of community.
Cities together lacks the social and strains moving from the core. Regions develop communities based off “income, race and fascial conditions” (Ameregis 3). One community has problems, including weak tax bases, poverty and lack of resources. Another community fully developed may have a low poverty rate, weak tax bases and suffering from social needs. Only a select percentage according to the Revenue Study have strong tax bases, expensive housing and great investment development.
On the good side, this town was wide open. There was lots of space and the natural scenery was just beautiful. Because it was not so crowded, and traffic was not a problem, there was not much pollution either. I like this because it was easier to keep healthy.
One major issue affecting many people trying to make the decision on where to live is their quality of life in either extreme. Health, education, transportation are three major concerns that many consider. In a city, pollution surrounds you wherever you step whether on the streets of a busy financial district or on the lawn of a large park. Pollution could possibly cause health problems later in life. In the country, pollution is scarce. Fresh air, rolling green hills, a few pieces of litter here and there but pretty much everything is clean, and wow! No smog, you can see the stars! In the country, childhood education, kindergarten through twelfth grade, is significantly better than in a large city; smaller class sizes and larger budgets create excellent learning environments. In cities, public schools are often plagued with very large classes packed into small spaces. Teachers with low pay, and little or no dedication are thrown into classrooms to teach, resulting in poor education. Transportation is very accessible in city environments. Public transportation, by way of subways, busses and ferries, are cheap and easy ways of getting around a metropolis, whether going out to work, school, or for a night on the town. In the country, everyone needs to have access to his or her own vehicle. A commute to work or school is about an average of forty-five minutes!
Where I live is one of the greatest neighborhoods in the city to live in; however, it does have its drawbacks. Importantly, it has nearly everything a resident might want, beautiful picturesque scenery, proximity to shopping, and many of the cultural centers. Nevertheless, the roads can be some of the most congested in town, and the streets are not safe to walk late at night. Fortunately, I wake every morning to the most beautiful sun-lit house. I sit on my porch sipping coffee, while I drink in an atmosphere that steals my breath away.
The city was blinding me with shining lights that you could see from space. It was glistening in the night and dull by day. There were cars parked all alongside the streets and traffic jams every corner.
In the early nineteenth century, during the Industrial Revolution, Americans gradually began selling their farms and trading the common suburban life with the adventurous fast-pace urban life. Today the majority of the American population chooses to dwell in cities, towns or suburbs; however, there are still many families living the country lifestyle. What influences an individual to select one way of living over another? The area in which one's home is located has effects on their way of life. Urban living and suburban living both have advantages and disadvantages, and these characteristics are what greatly influences peoples' decisions about where they should live.