Due to the rising cost of living and the loss of small town jobs and businesses, there has been a move by some sectors of the government to merge small towns with their bigger counterparts in the main cities of various states. Although this decision sounds wise from a financial perspective, it is also a bad decision as it signifies the end of an era of American living. So, as this era draws to a close, I thought it would be only fitting to look back on the cause and effect of life in rural or small town America.
To begin with, the population of a small town can sometimes peak at the same number of children of attending a city public school. With a population of about 50 to 150 thousand, the tendency of people is to become familiar with their neighbors on a full name basis. Although small town living is not as idyllic in real life as it is portrayed on television, it serves to give its residents a sense of belonging and family as most of the population grow up, marry, and age, within the same vicinity.
Basic services at this level of community tends to be on the bare bones level as medical centers and university hospitals are nowhere to be found. In its place is the limited bed family clinic with the town doctor who still does house calls and knows his patients names and health conditions by heart. Those who live in the somewhat larger towns end up absorbing the more serious cases from the small towns as they have the higher end capabilities to deal with more types of illnesses.
Small town America is a place where change comes slowly or not at all. This is the reason why the tendency of such types of towns is to either be merged within larger towns or, become deserted as the members of the population, who sense a need to take action in order to change things in their lives, move away to the bigger cities for better life opportunities.
The tendency of small towns is to survive mostly as farming communities. This is a mode of work that is more often than not, handed down from generation to generation. But, as the generations progress and various changes occur within society, the small town residents, whose farming tradition helps keep food on the table of mainstream America, tend to recognize the importance for the various changes and in some ways, change the way small town America functions as well.
But perhaps the biggest reason as to why some people opt for small town living and move there, or why some people choose to stay as residents in the small town they were born in comes down to how they want to raise their families. Small town living offers the residents a safe, quiet, and closely knit community where there is very little intrigue and the neighbors pretty much mind their own business unless somebody else’s business directly affects their lifestyle.
Small town living is an adventuruous way of life for those who live it. Being closer to nature, they tend to become more observant and highly introspective of the things happening around them. They can take the time to actually smell the flowers and enjoy the invigorating colors of spring as the slow lifestyle allows them to enjoy life to its fullest, the way that nature intended all of us to.
Small town living is not for everyone. However, it is an excellent choice to make if one is considering a lifestyle change. It is that break from city life that everyone needs to recharge their batteries once in a while. Overall, I would not say that there are any existing negative causes and effects of small town living.