Page 385 - Essencials of Sociology

Small Town USA: Struggling to Survive
road Wal-Mart sells the same
All across the nation, small towns are strug- products for about what you
gling to survive. Parents and town officials pay for them—and offers much
are concerned because so few young adults greater variety.
remain in their home town . There is little to There are exceptions: Some small towns are
keep them there, and when they graduate located close to a city, and they receive the city's
from high school, most move to the city. spillover. A few possess a rare treasure—some
With young people leaving and old ones unique historical event or a natural attraction---
dying, the small towns are shriveling . -that draws visitors with money to spend . Most
of the others, though, are drying up, left in a time
How can small towns contend with cut-
throat global competition when workers in warp as history shifts around them . This photo
some countries are paid just a few dollars essay tells the story.
a day? Even if you open a store, down the

I was struck by the grandiosity
of people’s dreams, at least
as reflected in the names that
some small-towners give their
businesses. Donut Palace has
a nice ring to it—inspiring
thoughts of wealth and royalty
(note the crowns). Unfortunately,
like so many others, this
business didn’t make it.

People do whatever they can to survive. This enterprising
proprietor uses the building for an unusual combination of
purposes: a “plant world”, along with the sale of milk, eggs,
bread, and, in a quaint southern touch, cracking pecans.

The small towns are filled with places like this— business names is the utter simplicity of others. Cafe tells
In striking contrast to the grandiosity of some small town
small businesses, locally owned, that have enough everyone that some type of food and drinks are served here.
clientele for the owner and family to eke out a Everyone in this small town knows the details.
living. They have to offer low prices because there
is a fast-food chain down the road. Fixing the
sign? That’s one of those “I’ll get-to-its.”

© James M. Henslin, all photos