The 20 Best Small Towns in America of 2012
From the Berkshires to the Cascades, we've crunched the numbers and pulled a list some of the most interesting spots around the country
- By Susan Spano and Aviva Shen
- Smithsonian magazine, May 2012
Mill Valley Records owner Gary Scheuenstuhl hits a groove with customer Alex Andersen. (Mark Richards)
A Bay Area enclave that put mellow on the map keeps its funky vibe.
Mill Valley is one of the jewels in a necklace of beau- tiful towns—along with Sausalito, Marin City and Tiburon—across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. It’s tucked into a canyon on the flank of 2,571-foot Mount Tamalpais, near the giant redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument and marshland surrounding Richardson Bay. The setting and proximity to San Francisco attracted sawmills, dairy farms and resort operators, then Beat poets and hippies who scandalized locals by skinny-dipping and smoking weed. A more recent influx of wealthy commuters has made Mill Valley (pop. 13,900) one of the nation’s wealthiest ZIP codes. Shops, galleries, organic food restaurants and art festivals cater to the newcomers, threatening to crowd out ratty old landmarks like the beloved Sweetwater Saloon where Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Jerry Garcia and Elvis Costello played. The good news is that, as of this past January, the Sweetwater’s back, occupying new quarters in the town’s old Masonic Hall. The Art Commission sponsors concerts and comedy in the town plaza, and the Throckmorton Theater welcomes music groups like the Kingston Trio and Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, along with a June festival dedicated to gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. -- SS
Read how these towns were selected.
Comments (844)
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Your article said Sausalito was '#12. What happened. Where is the article in this small town?
Posted by Patti frazier on May 11,2013 | 10:04 PM
This town looks perfect! I was wondering if you could send me a pamplet or more info on it. Thank You.
Posted by Rhonda robison on May 11,2013 | 03:44 PM
I must say that, having been born in Butler and still living there, I can't possibly figure out how you people think we rate being on this list. You have obviously never been there. Drug addicts everywhere, dilapidated buildings, crumbling roads and sidewalks, a huge jail right in the middle of downtown, etc. The town is a DUMP!! I live in Butler Township, which surrounds the city, and it is amazing that such a stark constrast can exist between two places so close together. I highly recommend that you do NOT visit Butler! (By the way, the picture for Butler is not an "East side neighborhood", it is called Lyndora, which has its own post office and zip code and is not even part of Butler. Please correct this error.)
Posted by Sam Hoszwa on May 9,2013 | 12:47 PM
Beckley, West Virginia? You've got to be kidding me! I'm from West Virginia, and I've been to Beckley many times throughout my life visiting family. Beckley is one of my least favorite places in West Virginia! The picture shows Tamarak, which to be honest, is not that exciting, and is not really in Beckley anyway. Seriously, it is a run-down town that has nothing going on, and if I didn't have family that lived there, I would never intentionally go there. This just discredits the entire article in my opinion.
Posted by Heather on May 8,2013 | 11:38 PM
I lived in Menomonie for four years during college at Stout. Somehow I missed the building in the photo. I lived in Mabel Tainter Hall for two years and loved the old house. The achitecture was nearly identical to the building featured. I'm hoping to visit Menomonie this coming warmer weather seasons.
Posted by Carole-Joy Evert on April 26,2013 | 03:11 PM
The best towns are where your loving family is.
Posted by John on April 22,2013 | 01:05 PM
I live in Astoria, OR and your description of the town seems to have come straight from a Chamber of Commerce brochure. I don't believe you actually visited the place. Or if you did, you limited yourself to the 10 square block tourist-trap area downtown. Outside of that you only see run-down houses, boarded up businesses, and people in hunting camouflage driving jacked-up pickups. You obviously did not talk to anyone outside of town officials either, or you would have realized the general sense of apathy that pervades the population. And what you euphamistically refer to as "blue collar" is actually just redneck. This is a depressing place, and it has nothing to do with the weather.
Posted by Charles Bode on April 16,2013 | 01:29 AM
Cool place,great to visit
Posted by Gage on April 15,2013 | 04:24 PM
I went through the 22 cities and did not find Lihue, HI. What happened? I went through the cities 2 times. I love Laguna Beach. I have been going to Laguna Beach for over 25 years.I never get tired of visiting. there is always something new. Christine
Posted by christine Smith on April 11,2013 | 05:27 PM
Hard to believe Aspen isn't on the list. For culture, it beats most of the others hands down.
Posted by chuck rock on April 11,2013 | 10:36 AM
My hometown!! Proud to say i live here..thanks for adding us to the list!
Posted by dottie legg on April 9,2013 | 01:34 PM
Sun Valley should be in here, but it might be a little to small. (5,000 is the population) It is a really fun place. GREAT skiing in Winter and pretty good mountain biking in the Summer
Posted by binruggeri on April 6,2013 | 03:25 PM
Gig Harbor is an awesome little town. 7,200 is pretty a small population, don't you think? Just research Gig Harbor, Wa and see all the cool stuff about it. Also for all those sun lovers, come in the summer.
Posted by ghf on April 2,2013 | 07:31 PM
While waiting in an Orthodontist office I found a maagazine which I am sure was a Smithsonian magazine ffor children, but I can find no info for one. Is there such an issue? Collin
Posted by Collin L. Neal on March 27,2013 | 05:31 PM
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