Small Town News

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

One week just wasn't enough for us to explore Tallulah!  We hope you enjoy the second episode dedicated to the little town. Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

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

Welcome to Tallulah, Louisiana!  Tallulah was founded in 1857 in the Mississippi Valley and is the seat of Madison Parish.  The town got it's name in an unusual way.  During the construction of the railroad in the area, a widowed plantation owner persuaded the railroad contractor to change the route to run through her plantation.  After construction was complete, the widow had nothing more to...

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

Welcome to Smyrna, Delaware, "Always Marching Forward!"  Located in northern Delaware on the bank of Duck Creek, Smyrna was first settled in the early 1700s and was originally named Salisbury in 1716.  The town grew quickly as a shipping port  serving the Duck Creek area.  The town was officially renamed Smyrna in 1806.  Smyrna's shipping industry shrank during the 19th century and...

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

Welcome to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, "The City of Rainbows!" The town is located along the Ouachita River at the edge of the Ouachita Mountains in southern Arkansas.  The town was originally named Blakeleytown after it's first settler, but was renamed Arkadelphia in 1839.  The town's early industries included a salt works, lumber mill and a trading post that served the surrounding...

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

Happy Independence Day week!  It's time to celebrate the unlikely origins of our nation with fireworks displays and hot dog eating contests.  As we all know, small towns are the fuel that keep our nation running and the fodder for our podcast.  Our episode this week is a compilation of porch chats from various towns over the last year or two.  We hope you enjoy! Small Town News--whose headlin...

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

Welcome to Pell City, Alabama, "Denture Capital of the World!"(according to George).  While we could only substantiate the denture capital claim from one post on jalopyjournal.com, we are going with it.  Pell City was founded in 1890 by railroad investors and is one of two county seats in St. Claire County.  The town nearly disappeared after the Panic of 1893, but was saved when Sumter C...

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

Welcome to Wailuku, Hawaii!  The area was a thriving population center on Maui prior to the unification of the Hawaiian Islands in the late 18th century.  The town changed dramatically in the mid 1800s with the arrival of Christian missionaries and new agricultural techniques that helped develop sugar plantations.  With the rise of the sugar industry, thousands migrated to Wailuku from all around...

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

Welcome to Harlan, Kentucky, the "Coal Capital on Kentucky!"  The town is located in the Appalachain Mountains at the junction of the Clover Fork and Martin's Fork rivers.  Harlan sits in the "sweet spot" of coal mining in southeastern Kentucky near the Tennessee border.  In the 1800s families moved to Harlan with the promise of work and better living conditions provided b...

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

Welcome to Fairmont, West Virginia, "The Friendly City!"  The town was originally incorporated as Middletown in 1820 but was changed it's name to Fairmont in 1843 at the suggestion of William Haymond Jr.  because of its beautiful view of the Monongahela River.  Fairmont also calls itself the "Pepperoni Capital of the World."  The first pepperoni roll was sold at the Countr...

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

Welcome to Hinsdale, Illinois! The town is a western suburb of Chicago and was founded in 1873.  This year is Hindsdale's sesquicentennial and they will be celebrating the milestone all year.  The town was originally founded by William Robbins when he purchased the land surrounding a newly planned railroad stop.  The new town attracted Chicagoans and tradesmen eager to be a part of the new to...

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

Welcome to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, "You'll love our friendly nature!"  The town was named in 1870 after nearby Rice Lake.  The lake was named for the wild rice that used to grow on it's shores.  The area is known for it's trail networks that provide opportunities to sky, hike, bike, and snowmobile.  The nearby lake provides opportunities for fishing and other watersports.  W...

Thanks to some technical difficulties involving fidgeting feet, we won't be posting a full episode this week.  We hope you enjoy this porch chat! Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov 

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

Welcome to East Greenwich, Rhode Island!  The town was incorporated in 1677 as Greenwich and is the 8th oldest town in the state.  The town was originally established to provide farms and house lots to 48 men who fought in King Phillip's War.  In 1741 the town split into East and West Greenwich.  Located on the western side of the Narragansett Bay, the town established the first Navy in the A...