MPR: Our Town, Minnesota

Travel across the region and you'll find cities and towns with much in common. Chain restaurants and big box retail have come to Main Street. A number of communities are struggling to manage growth while saving their history. Some say small towns are losing their character. Others say small town life is still good - even safer since Sept. 11.

OUR TOWNS
Click anywhere on the map to learn more about the communities featured in this report.

MAINSTREET RADIO SPECIAL
Mainstreet Radio broadcast a special program from Little Falls, Minn. on Wed., December 12.
Listen to Hour 1
Listen to Hour 2

RESOURCES
See a list of Web sites and other resources about small Minnesota towns.

YOUR STORIES
"Urban sprawl and development have completely changed the Stillwater of my youth. I used to love it there, and now there is little left of the place that gave me so many happy memories." (More)

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CREDITS
Online Editor: Melanie Sommer Researcher: Betsy Cole
Broadcast Editor: Kate Smith
Art Director: Darby Laing
Production Supervisor: Michael Wells

Small town life suits them fine By Chris Julin You meet them in every small town - people who went away for a while, but came back. Shelly Olson's like that. Read \| Listen

All you need is a church and a bar By Jeff Horwich To get at the heart of small-town Minnesota, you don't need much except a church and a bar - the two pillars of rural Minnesota life. Read \| Listen

Viroqua saves its soul By Rob Schmitz Fifteen years ago, western Wisconsin's Vernon County was in economic trouble. Small dairy farms were shutting down, and Wal-Mart moved in. Over the past several years, the area has made a comeback. Read \| Listen

Debating big-box retail By Tom Robertson For years, the quiet character of the northern Minnesota city of Bemidji was based on logging, farming and a stable downtown economy. But a rapid spurt of growth has transformed Bemidji into an economic hub. Read \| Listen

Losing a sense of belonging By Laurel Druley At one time fraternal societies like the Elk and the Moose thrived. In America's small towns they gave people a place to belong. Now, dwindling membership means clubs are either being redefined or disbanding all together. Read \| Listen

Using the past to shape the future By Stephanie Hemphill For decades, people drove through Duluth to get to the North Shore. Now, the city has turned itself around and has become a destination on its own. One thing that makes Duluth special is its old buildings. Read \| Listen

Safety in smaller numbers By Bob Reha The image of small cities in rural America is often that of isolated communities where nothing much happens. But in the wake of Sept. 11, that perception may be changing. Read \| Listen

Made possible by a grant from the Blandin Foundation

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