Week of January 21st, 2008
FAIRHOPE ONCE AGAIN NAMED AMONG THE SOUTH’S 50 BEST SMALL TOWNS
Just in time for Fairhope’s 100th Anniversary, Fairhope has once again been named among the South’s 50 best small towns in “The Fifty Best Small Southern Towns, 2nd Edition” by authors Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields (Peachtree Publishing, Paperback, 416 pages, ISBN: 978-1-56145-408-2).
Business manager Sweitzer and educational consultant Fields have both given seminars on retirement and living in small towns. According to the authors, back in the 1990’s, a trend started with people started leaving metropolitan areas for new lives in small towns and cities. Frustrated with city traffic, air pollution, crowded suburbs, and declining quality of life, city dwellers are seeking desirable, small Southern towns. People are choosing the South over other regions because of its lower cost of living, slower pace, friendliness and charm, more favorable climate and strong economy.
Finding the best town, however, can be a challenge for many. In this helpful guide, Sweitzer and Fields researched and visited over 150 places to give you a comprehensive guidebook with information on the fifty best small towns in nine southeastern states. To be featured in the book, each town had to meet stringent qualifications: population under 25,000, positive population growth, readily available cultural and recreational attractions, adult education opportunities, employment, spiritual life, healthcare options, and high-speed internet access and location. Each town’s detailed description includes information on:
- Recreational highlights
- Cultural scene
- Natural environment
- Economic and education profiles
- Healthcare
- Vital statistics (population, cost of living, median incomes, etc.)
- Directions
The guide is arranged alphabetically by state (Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia) and by town within each state. Each entry includes a description of the criteria and statistical charts that give details on the climate, the cost of living, median incomes, taxes, and nearest cities. Also included is a helpful appendix that indicates college towns, the geographical setting of each town, population, and more.
Visit Peachtree Publishing at www.peachtree-online.com, or the book can be found online at book retailers such as www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and many others.