Where Have All the Small Towns Gone?
The centuries old ubi sunt query—where are those who went before us? or where are the snow of yesterday?—has always been a question with no answer. But this particular question is not ambiguous. Had it been asked ten or more years ago, the answer would have been “Gone to strip malls everyone.” Over the last quarter of a century, once thriving urban centers became ghost towns as the burgeoning population spilled out into the suburbs, leaving the heart of the city desolate. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. An amazing number of small towns are now working feverishly to reverse this trend and rejuvenate the city center. Athens, Alabama, is one of those towns. The formerly deserted downtown area has blossomed into an oasis of culture, couture, and cuisine. One-of-a-kind shops surround the handsome Greek Revival courthouse and the streets are alive with shoppers and merchants alike, as well as music and art. Thanks to an energetic and visionary city government, a hardworking Chamber
