Small Town News

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Ottawa, Kansas!  Located on the banks of the Marias des Cygnes River, the town is named after the Ottawa Tribe.  In 1864 the Ottawa Tribe donated a large tract of land as part of a treaty to construct Ottawa University to educate Native Americans and other residents.  The tribe sold their remaining land in 1867 and moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  The town was home to German and...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to the beautiful city of Aiken, South Carolina, "A Place Like No Other"!  Located in western South Carolina, the town was incorporated in 1835 at the terminus of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company and named after William Aiken, the railroad's first president.  In the late 19th century, Aiken became a wintering spot for wealthy families from the northeast including...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Bel Air, Maryland!  Bel Air was founded in 1780, but its name changed several times until landing upon Bel Air in 1789.  While we are sure there are many interesting things about Bel Air, the fact that is was the home of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, two great American actors, seems to be the crown jewel.  John was obviously known for assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. In a strange...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Sometimes we don't really go anywhere!  Keith abandoned us for his family this week, and we decided to be lazy and talk about whatever seemed interesting.  We don't think anything else we could write would prepare you for what this becomes.  Get ready for Paul Hogan, microwave splatter guards, and human resources!   By the way, Keith is back next week... Small Town News--whose headline i...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to LaGrande, Oregon, waypoint on the Oregon Trail!  The town was founded in 1861 and was named Brownsville after its first permanent settler, Benjamin Brown.  Unfortunately they quickly discovered the name was already in use and changed it to LaGrande.  Before it was permanently settled by Europeans, the area was a inhabited by various Native American tribes during the summer to hunt, gath...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Jamestown, ND, the "Pride of the Prairie"!  Founded in 1872, Jamestown is North Dakota's 9th largest city with a population of just over 15,000.  Jamestown is home to the Frontier Village, a collection of original frontier buildings that were brought to the site and filled with antiques and artifacts.  Close to the village, you will find the National Buffalo Museum and th...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Pleasantville, NJ, where you can "Feel the Energy!"  Located adjacent to Atlantic City, the town was originally incorporated as a borough in 1889 from portions of Egg Harbor Township.  It was officially incorporated as a city in 1914.  The was called home by many noteable people including Sonora Webster Carver, the first female horse diver.  You can read her story in her book,...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Waurika, The Parakeet Capital of the World!  Unfortunately there is no explanation for the parakeet claim.  Waurika was incorporated in 1903.  The town's website states that the name means "clear water", while other sources state the name is the anglicized version of the Comanche word for worm eater.  Guess which one we like better?  The Army Corps of Engineers built the...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Columbia Falls, Gateway to Glacier National Park!  Oddly, Columbia Falls is not located near any falls of any kind.  The area serves as a home base to travelers to visit Glacier National Park, the Hungry Horse Dam and Reservoir, and Flathead National Forest.  Columbia Falls was called home by the Obscenity and Pornography Complaints Ombudsman for the State of Utah, Paula Houston.  While...

no, really... he does Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome the Lenoir, NC, "Where the High Country Ends!"  Nestled in the Appalachain Mountains and originally settled by the Tucker Family, the area was known as Tucker's Barn beginning in 1765.  When the area was incorporated in 1851, it was renamed Lenoir in honor of Revolutionary War general William Lenoir.  General Lenoir's restored home, Fort Defiance, is a popular tourist a...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Centerville, Iowa. Today, September 26th, would have been the 72nd annual Pancake Day celebration, but it has been postponed until 2021 due to the current pandemic.  While that means there won't be any free pancakes, parades, pageants today, we are going anyway!  Who could deny themselves a trip to this once booming coal town located near Rathbun Lake, known as "Iowa's Oc...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

Welcome to Royse City, "a friendly touch of Texas!" Located in Northeast Texas 33 miles from Dallas, Royse City was first developed around 1885 by Byrd Royse.  Royse was instrumental in getting the MK & T Railroad brought through the city, and reportedly cut a deal with the railroad to have the town named Royse City in exchange for donating the land for the train station.  Royse City...

Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov