The Silent Demise of Small Town America
Toya Bryant
July 29, 2008
What used to beat like a heartbeat in the womb of America, small towns in their most native state have all but died in recent years. Forever gone are: Ma and Pa run general stores, the single diner communities where patrons were served a good old cup of Joe, and the city councils run by a single individual who moonlighted as the local barber.
Over the past two decades what has taken place is the gradual transformation of the little engine that could outlook in small town America; small towns that dream of being big cities. The fast food phenomenon and mega sized food and clothing chain retailers have made these once quaint societies a developers dream. A virtual gold mine for capitalists looking to siphon the untapped resources of a profitable market supported by consumers who had only one option for their commercial needs: the neighborhood Piggly Wiggly.
In a nation that has taken an economic hit from surging gas prices, small town America has seen the influx of competitive stations where you can fill up your car, get Krispy Creme donuts and an Iced Quad Venti with Whip Skinny Caramel Macchiato from an on-site Starbucks. In areas where cable, Internet access, and cell phone services were non-existent or scant at best we see the expansion of such technologies catering to those in rural populations. Even the local eatery now offers Wifi access.
While these services are not all dreadful especially in view of the shifting needs of smaller municipalities, they do bear responsibility for an end of an era: the Cheers mentality. Due to the closing communication gap between small town America and the rest of the world, gone are the days when everyone knew each other by name. Once friendly personal greetings have been replaced by cell phones perpetually tied to the hands of young and old, and Internet social networks have removed the need for face-to-face banter.
Not only have the atmosphere of these towns changed, so have the attitudes. Big city pretentiousness has affected the thinking of the populace. Social and economic demarcations are now more evident due to the ability to shop online and achieve retail superiority from the comforts of home.
In actuality small town America has followed in the footsteps of it’s metropolitan predecessors. The United States’ largest cities were once comprised of diminutive communities, but due to anticipated growth, population booms, and technological advances, they have progressively blossomed into commerce driven entities where anonymity and class distinctions reign supreme. We can only wonder if eventually small town America will follow suit and all but evaporate from the American landscape. If that happens the global society will be permanently altered by the silent demise of small town America.
Over the past two decades what has taken place is the gradual transformation of the little engine that could outlook in small town America; small towns that dream of being big cities. The fast food phenomenon and mega sized food and clothing chain retailers have made these once quaint societies a developers dream. A virtual gold mine for capitalists looking to siphon the untapped resources of a profitable market supported by consumers who had only one option for their commercial needs: the neighborhood Piggly Wiggly.
In a nation that has taken an economic hit from surging gas prices, small town America has seen the influx of competitive stations where you can fill up your car, get Krispy Creme donuts and an Iced Quad Venti with Whip Skinny Caramel Macchiato from an on-site Starbucks. In areas where cable, Internet access, and cell phone services were non-existent or scant at best we see the expansion of such technologies catering to those in rural populations. Even the local eatery now offers Wifi access.
While these services are not all dreadful especially in view of the shifting needs of smaller municipalities, they do bear responsibility for an end of an era: the Cheers mentality. Due to the closing communication gap between small town America and the rest of the world, gone are the days when everyone knew each other by name. Once friendly personal greetings have been replaced by cell phones perpetually tied to the hands of young and old, and Internet social networks have removed the need for face-to-face banter.
Not only have the atmosphere of these towns changed, so have the attitudes. Big city pretentiousness has affected the thinking of the populace. Social and economic demarcations are now more evident due to the ability to shop online and achieve retail superiority from the comforts of home.
In actuality small town America has followed in the footsteps of it’s metropolitan predecessors. The United States’ largest cities were once comprised of diminutive communities, but due to anticipated growth, population booms, and technological advances, they have progressively blossomed into commerce driven entities where anonymity and class distinctions reign supreme. We can only wonder if eventually small town America will follow suit and all but evaporate from the American landscape. If that happens the global society will be permanently altered by the silent demise of small town America.
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