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2 responses to “A Town that Refuses to Die”

1. 

   LarrytheG

   August 8, 2017

   towns are different from rural …. they can and are places where economic activity is more likely and possible because they generally have higher levels of infrastructure – like water, sewer, internet, grid streets, more robust cellular and land lines and even electricity with substations and more redundant supply. They often also often county seat type services… post offices, state offices for social services, public safety, medical services, hospitals, clinics, doctor offices, schools, higher ed, community colleges, etc.

   Even though many are decimated by the loss of manufacturing .. textiles, lumber, they still anchor the rural areas around them and still will “hang on” albeit maybe not as big as their heydays… but on the other hand -still having the basic infrastructure accouterments to attract some kinds of 21st century economic activity.

   The vaunted knowledge economy is also found in places like Redmond, Washington, Bend Oregon , etc…

   “Facebook, IBM, and 5 other big-name tech companies based in small-town America”

   http://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-companies-headquartered-small-us-towns/#ibm-7

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2. 

   LarrytheG

   August 9, 2017

   Some interesting things perhap worth BR getting a guest blog from someone who is knowledgeable is “places” in Virginia that have a different status than counties… and the differences.

   Here’s the starting point:

   There are 38 independent cities in Va.

   There are 190 incorporated towns – more than a few than are grandfathered to be a town with a population of less than 1000.

   There are 362 unincorporated “towns” also called unincorporated communities.

   Finally .. SOME of the unincorporated communities are Census Designated places – CDPs which are defined thusly: ” CDPs are populated areas that lack separate municipal government, but which otherwise physically resemble incorporated places. ”

   I think one of two blog posts explaining the differences in terms of powers and authorities would be informative and useful in discussions…

   For instance, do incorporated towns have additional capabilities in attracting industry and jobs ?

   or another…. why are some cities – and towns reverting to a lower status in Virginia recently?

   Since BR has a focus on Virginia – and speaks often to Virginia issues – like South Boston – if there are volunteers out there among it’s readers to opine about such things.. please step forward! I KNOW there are SOME… one is a sometimes commenter named Bosun… who .. more often than not .. offers tidbits of info not generally known by other readers..

   so how about it? Maybe a few posts about how citie and towns are organized and operate in Virginia?

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