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Can South Dakota’s small towns be cool?
January 29th, 2010 by Mike Knutson
I’ve commented previously about efforts by travel magazines to identify “cool small towns” (read here and here). Although these lists provide some perspective for rural community development enthusiasts, I’m a bit skeptical of them largely because they are written from a “tourist’s point of view.” In other words, they’re about what urban dwellers believe is cool, and I’m not sure that always translates to what’s important to the 
future of rural communities. But a new list caught my eye yesterday because it identifies small towns that “are cool” based on how well they are transitioning into the 21st century economy. Now that’s a list worth looking at.
Actually, the list is just new to me. Dr. David Ivan at Michigan State University’s Land Policy Institute has been researching the subject for the last 4-5 years. With Richard Florida’s “Creative Class theory” as the backdrop, Dr. Ivan centered his research around the question, “Can small towns be cool?” Through his research, he has identified both themes of success (i.e. - best practices) and success stories (i.e. - what small towns are doing good things). Rural community development enthusiasts will find value in both.
Through review of Dr. Ivan’s presentation at the 2009 Small Town & Rural Development Conference, I was able to identify the following 10 themes being employed by successful small towns.
- Strong engagement between citizens, community organizations, and government (note: he identified third places as a key factor in building civic engagement, slide 10);
- Local entrepreneurial investment in community;
- Community fosters an environment that support entrepreneurship;
- Regional view of the economy;
- Willingness to adapt for new opportunities;
- Actively pursues cultural economic development opportunities;
- Cultural efforts are not overly contrived;
- Cultural efforts reach out to community youth;
- Deliberate effort to engage youth;
- Conviction that in the long run you have to do it yourself.
What a great list! Readers at ReImagine Rural will recognize many of the themes as regular topics of discussion. One theme I was surprised to see not addressed was school involvement. Granted youth are prominently featured, but most rural communities operate under the principle that the school is the heart of the community. It causes me to wonder how we can have a successful community without school engagement.
Where’s South Dakota in all this?
I became aware of this study because of Richard Longworth’s December 2009 blog post titled “Some success.” A Google search for “Can Small Towns be Cool” made me aware that I had missed an earlier post on the same subject (May 2009) from my favorite small town entrepreneurship blogger, Becky McCray. Both Longworth and McCray both identify specific towns that are on the “cool town list.” Sadly, no small towns in South Dakota made the cut. What’s up with that?
As Longworth points out, Dr. Ivan is still conducting research and is interested in hearing of other successful small towns. Hopefully, South Dakota’s towns haven’t been reviewed yet. But just in case, I’m going to suggest one.
How about Hills City?
I didn’t make the Design SD charrette in Hill City, SD last fall. But from what Lindsey tells me, they should be on the list.
Hill City terms itself “the heart of the hills” due to its location and proximity to major Black Hills attractions, including Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. But today, the town is probably better known for its arts economy. Several years ago, a prominent artist made Hill City his home, and brought with him an idea that Hill City had the potential to develop an arts-based economy. Since that time, the town’s leadership has embraced the idea and Hill City’s Main Street has transformed itself into an upscale shopping destination for tourists and residents alike. Organizations like the Hill City Arts Council and Heart of the Hills Economic Development Corporation have joined forces to host events, encourage entrepreneurs, and build a stronger community (see their explicit goals here). Hill City is definitely one of South Dakota’s cool towns!
I’ve got a few pressing tasks yet today, but I’m definitely going to send Dr. Ivan my recommendation. And I hope you will share your recommendation as well.
Additional Resources:
- “Can Small Towns Be Cool? Study Translation Paper” by Dr. David Ivan
- Design South Dakota
Photo Credit: Cliff1066 - Flickr
Tags: coolest small towns, creative economy, Hill City SD, Michigan, small town cool
Posted in Community Development, Economic Development, Rural | Comments (
7 )
January 29th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
[...] By lindseykarlson Leave a Comment Categories: 1 Mike Knutson of Reimagine Rural shares great research from Michigan State University’s Land Policy Institute about what makes [...]
January 29th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
I’m glad you discovered Dr. David Ivan. He “gets it”!
Now, how did I miss Richard Longworth and the Midwesterner? He’s definitely on my reading list now. Thank you!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Becky,
So much to read…so much to learn…so little time.
January 31st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I do have a concern about Dr. Ivan highlighting Suttons Bay, MI,as having “utilized landscape architecture students from a local university to develop visual form-based zoning ordinance to ensure compliance with village look.” I would think adding restaints to local zoning codes instead of eliminating unreasonable ones would fly in the face of the Jacobs-esque emphasis on a diversity of structures. However, I am open to any ideas that would benefit my little hamlet of Menominee, MI, especially in these trying times. WWJJD?
January 31st, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I’m not sure “what Jane Jacobs would do.” In terms of Jacob’s view on zoning, I’m only familiar with her being a critique of zoning regulations that hindered a community’s walkability. As you are probably well aware, Jacobs appreciated lively street life and local economy. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to the “adding restraints” vs. “eliminating unreasonable” zoning question that you ask.
I should, however, add that I am a strong beleiver in the Main Street Approach and historic preservation as economic development strategies in small, rural communities. Again, I’m just not sure what Jane Jacobs would say about it. Perhaps we can find someone who can help.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:56 am
Jacobs (1961) in her foundational urban planning work argued for dense, mixed-use communities which preserve community uniqueness. Jacobs also argued that community vitality depended on the overlapping and interweaving of activities within a city. The community I referenced, Suttons Bay, recognized that zoning words were not enough to ensure a consistent “village look” that enhanced sense of place. Through form based zoning they more effectively managed new development to reflect the character of the community.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 am
In traditional towns, buildings were the main framers of the public space of the street. Conventional zoning pays no attention to this fundamental principle. Conventional zoning is more concerned with the use of the building and making sure there is enough car storage (ususally between the building and the street, where the public space then loses its form). Form based codes take a step towards traditional town-making. They are not meant to be restrictive. Rather, they are meant to be prescriptive.