Wrapping up the rural livability case studies; download them all

September 13, 2010
By Stephen Lee Davis

This morning’s post on Taos, New Mexico wraps up our series of 12 case studies on livability and transit in small towns and communities.

We hope you enjoyed these short snapshots of how livability resonates in these smaller communities across the country. Despite what you hear some skeptical lawmakers saying in hearings or in the press, livability is perhaps an essentially rural or small town value. These 12 short case studies help prove that point.

If you found this series useful, we’ve put all the case studies together into one full document (pdf) that you can save and print out. Thank you to everyone who tweeted about and shared this series and passed it along to your elected leaders here in Washington.

You can always find this and other useful resources on our “Resources” page.

Summary: This collection of 12 case studies helps put to rest the idea that livability is an exclusively “urban” idea. Small cities, towns and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities. While some of these communities face formidable threats – from job losses and shrinking populations to disappearing farmland and strained resources – their leaders have forged collaborations and created plans that are growing economies, benefiting people and protecting the land and lifestyles treasured by residents and non-residents alike.