Star Communities: Links to Stories

The Star Communities series of posts has been a popular set of posts on this blog. As stated in each post, Star Communities are those communities that have shined above the rest. They may have overcome immense tragedy, or they have simply excelled beyond expectations for a town of their size. These are example communities that are role models for those who strive to be better.

Provided below is a list of the postings on Rural Resurrection in the Star Communities category. When new posts on this subject are added to the blog, this post will be updated and re-published later in the week.

Newton, Iowa

Winds of change have blown through Newton, Iowa. Devastated by the loss of Maytag, they’ve survived to become a more diversified community.

Lindström, Minnesota

Whether or not you know what umlauts are, Lindström is a model tourist community. The buy-in from those in and around the community is outstanding.

Niles, Michigan

From obtaining grants for businesses to regular programming and the creation of The Node, this community has seen a resurgence in their downtown that is catching attention throughout Michigan. The vibrancy and the activity in their downtown have transformed it into something that visitors are drawn to and residents are proud of.

Lake View, Iowa

Lake View is a great example of a Destination Town. This little Iowa town of 1,113 residents has the envious position of sitting along the shores of a popular recreational lake in Northwest Iowa. Each year Black Hawk Lake draws over 250,000 visitors and Lake View plays host with great aplomb.

Chillicothe, Missouri

The northwestern Missouri town of Chillicothe stands out for its brand and for its dedication to the arts. They are a glowing example of what a community can do in executing a brand. From logos, to murals, and names of events, the brand is clearly evident everywhere. But there is much more to Chillicothe than sliced bread. The 24 murals that grace the walls of the community are nestled in along many well-kept downtown structures. But it is also clear that arts are a focus of the community as well. Any way you slice it, Chillicothe is doing things right, that’s why they are a Star Community.

Once again, keep an eye out for more articles in this series as there are a number of other posts in the hopper like these.

* If you know of a town that should be recognized as a Star Community, let us know through the Contact Us page.