Best Places to Live
In Rural America
Previous-
Jim Patrico
Escape the Rat Race
If country living, strong community, affordable homes, great schools and access to health care make the short list of what you look for in a hometown, you're in luck. We found counties that offer that and more. In its fourth annual list, Progressive Farmer ranks the best rural places to live in America.
Click through our gallery as we count down the top ten rural places in America. Then, continue on as we share the 10 with lowest crime rates, the 10 most affordable and more.
Next: No. 10 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Jim Patrico
No. 10: La Plata, Colo.
What's to love about La Plata? How about gorgeous scenery, a mild climate and abundant wildlife.
If that's not enough, tourists bring in boatloads of money. Another big money-maker is the county's bulging reserves of natural gas.
So what could possibly be wrong with a place this fortunate? It's so nice everyone wants to live there. The population grew 9% from 2000 to 2006 and is now around 48,000.
· More on La Plata County
Next: No. 9 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Anna Mazurek
No. 9: Gilchrist County, Fla.
New residents are attracted to Gilchrist by its natural amenities, not to mention its open lands. Within its borders are two-square miles of water.
Underlying the quality rural life in Gilchrist are the county's good schools and access to medical care. In nearby Gainesville are two of the nation's most prestigious medical complexes -- the University of Florida's Shands Hospital and the acclaimed North Florida Regional Medical Center.
· More on Gilchrist County
Next: No. 8 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Joe Link
No. 8: Coffee County, Ala.
In the early 1900's, the boll weevil bug all but destroyed Coffee County's biggest moneymaker: cotton. It forced the town to look at others ways to make the economy grow and today you'll find a healthy base of small businesses.
Coffee County also has a lot more going for it -- community. It's about as good as it gets here.
· More on Coffee County
Next: No. 7 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Gregg Hillyer
No. 7: Fayette County, Texas
The folks here encourage visitors to spend a day, a week or even a lifetime in Fayette County. It appears more and more people are taking the offer to heart and putting down roots here. And little wonder. Fayette County is a rich mix of history and culture combined with wide-open spaces and small-town life.
La Grange (pop. 4,500), is the largest town and also the county seat. The town is nestled along the Colorado River and provides many of the area's commercial, civic and exceptional medical services. More on Fayette
Next: No. 6 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Jim Patrico
No. 6: Wexford County, Mi.
The county's number of small farms has dwindled over the years, and lumbering is only a tiny part of the local scene now. But Wexford County has adapted and prospered. Wexford has become a leader in Christmas tree production and is home to the largest trout farm in the state.
It's "a down-to-earth place where keeping up with the Joneses is not a priority and where hard work pays, in part, because you get to do it in one of the prettiest places in the state."
· More on Wexford County
Next: No. 5 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Jamie Cole
No. 5: Columbia County, Pa.
Columbia County is a place where agriculture is still a very much the heart of the county. Schools are excellent and have low student-teacher ratios. The world-class Geisinger Medical Center, a staple on national lists of best hospitals, is one county over. And there are two hospitals within Columbia County borders.
· More on Columbia County
Next: No. 4 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Jamie Cole
No. 4: Obion County, Tenn.
The economy is incredibly robust, particularly for a rural county where sprawl isn't an issue and population growth is slow or even non-existent. The relationship between manufacturing and farming forms the basis for that strong economy.
The county is looking to become a cultural center with the just-announced 50-acre Discovery Park of America. Residents are already impressed with their new, modern schools.
· More on Obion County
Next: No. 3 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Jim Patrico
No. 3: Livingston County, Mo.
These folks are inventive, industrious and not afraid to take the road less traveled. How many rural communities do you know that own their own railroad (a short line that serves the city's business park)? Or run their own electric utility? Or have a municipal airport with a new runway exactly long enough to accommodate private jets ... just in case business executives might want to stop by to visit the town as a potential new site? Chillicothe in Livingston County has all that.
· More on Livingston County
Next: No. 2 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Gregg Hillyer
No. 2: Ellis County, Kansas
Located in northwest Kansas, Ellis County is conveniently located midway between Denver and Kansas City. With a population of 20,000, Hays is the retail, education, cultural and medical hub of Ellis County as well as much of northwest Kansas. The streets are lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, coffee houses, salons and other shops you'd expect to find in much larger cities. There's a thriving cultural scene, exceptional medical care and top-notch amenities.
· More on Ellis County
Next: No. 1 Rural PlaceMore Progressive Farmer:
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Joe Link
No. 1: Kent County, Md.
Just a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Kent County should be covered with homes, strip malls and farmettes. But it's not. Not anywhere close. Instead it's a rare "sprawl" holdout.
For a county to be in Progressive Farmer's Best Places list, they hold them to the usual standards -- good schools, health care, safety and other desirable qualities. But what makes Kent stand out is its residents' resolve to maintain a solid rural heritage.
· More on Kent County
Next: 10 With Lowest Crime RateMore Progressive Farmer:
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Lowest Crime Rate
These counties have the lowest crime rate:
1: Carroll County, Ohio
2: Ralls County, Mo.
3: Tipton County, Tenn.
4: Edwards County, Ill.
5: Bibb County, Ala.
6: Tipton County, Ind.
7: Johnson County, Ill.
8: Shelby County, Ind.
9: Lincoln County, S.D.
10: Madison County, Ga.
Next: Lowest SpendingMore Progressive Farmer:
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Lowest Spending
These counties have lowest average household spending:
1: Wirt County, W.Va.
2: Monroe County, Miss.
3: Brantley County, Ga.
4: Cherokee County, Kan.
5: Brown County, Kan.
6: Labette County, Kan.
7: Cleburne County, Ala.
8: Allen County, Ky.
9: Hampshire County, W.Va.
10: Franklin County , Ark.
Next: Most AffordableMore Progressive Farmer:
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Most Affordable
Based on home price and income ratios, these are the most affordable counties:
1: Webster County, Ky.
2: Allegany County, N.Y.
3: Paulding County, Ohio
4: Liberty County, Ga.
5: Perry County , Ark.
6: Grant County , Ark.
7: Blackford County, Ind.
8: Jackson County, Ohio
9: Hardin County, Ohio
10: Union County, Fla.
Next: Air QualityMore Progressive Farmer:
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Best Air Quality
Based on air pollution indexes, these counties have the best air quality:
1: Branch County, Mich.
2: McDuffie County, Ga.
3: Effingham County, Ga.
4: Steuben County, Ind.
5: Lincoln County, Ga.
6: Autauga County, Ala.
7 (tie): Oconee County, Ga.
7 (tie): Bryan County, Ga.
7 (tie): Kennebec County, Maine
8: Dale County, Ala.
Next: Access to HealthcareMore Progressive Farmer:
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Access to Healthcare
Based on a health density ratio of resources to number of people:
1: Union County, S.D.
2: Burleigh County, N.D.
3: Montour County, Pa.
4: Fayette County, Ind.
5: Pitkin County, Colo.
6: Craighead County , Ark.
7: Lancaster County, Va.
8: Ellis County, Kan.
9: Oneida County, Wis.
10: Cape Girardeau County, Mo.
Next: Warmest CountiesMore Progressive Farmer:
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Cassandra Shie, AOL
Warmest Counties
Based on maximum January temperatures, here are the warmest counties:
1: Colusa County, Calif.
2: Panola County, Texas
3: Lampasas County, Texas
4: Freestone County, Texas
5: Washington County, Texas
6: Tehama County, Calif.
7: Rains County, Texas
8: Victoria County, Texas
9: Wagoner County, Okla.
10: Wood County, Texas
Next: Coldest CountiesMore Progressive Farmer:
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Coldest Counties
Coldest counties based on minimum temperature in January:
1: Dodge County, Minn.
2: Pope County, Minn.
3: Douglas County, Minn.
4: Waseca County, Minn.
5: Carlton County, Minn.
6: Steele County, Minn.
7: Pennington County, Minn.
8: Redwood County, Minn.
9: Hubbard County, Minn.
10: Wabasha County, Minn.
Next: Most College-EducatedMore Progressive Farmer:
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Most College-Educated
Highest number of high school grads who enroll in college:
1: Pitkin County, Colo.
2: Albemarle County, Va.
3: Story County, Iowa
4: Madison County, Miss.
5: Benton County, Ore.
6 (tie): Gallatin County, Mo.
6 (tie): Summit County, Colo.
7: Summit County Utah
8 (tie): Riley County, Kan.
8 (tie): Latah County, Idaho
Next: Best Teacher RatioMore Progressive Farmer:
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Best Teacher Ratio
1: Dukes County, Mass.
2: Orange County, Vt.
3: Grand Isle County, Vt.
4: King and Queen County, Va.
5: Windham County, Vt.
6: Orleans County, Vt.
7: Hancock County, Maine
8: Caledonia County, Vt.
9: Charles City County, Va.
10: King William County, Va.
Next: Worst Places to Live?More Progressive Farmer:
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More on AOL:
13 Worst Places to Live
Is your hometown awful? Odds are there is some list out there that puts where you live in the most extreme of some dreaded category for the state, region or country. Your curse may be the highest crime, summer temperatures, or insurance rates. We decided to take a closer look at the places that are always showing up on the worst-places-to-live lists and give them their say. Start Gallery: No. 1 Worst Place Is ...More Money & Finance:
Recent Comments
Jerri2222 09:31:02 AM Mar 13 2008
I won't tell you where the best place is.........cause then you'll all come and stay there...!! Hint : ( yes.. she did know how to swim)
Code4216823698 01:57:58 AM Mar 11 2008
Christopher D Lyons Independent Researcher. tiptopwebsite.com/netspendreferral4216823698
LawOfcsABS 01:59:07 AM Mar 10 2008
How could these places be among the best? I bet they're all freezing right now, or just experienced snow and ice. Without a doubt the best is the Central California Coast.
CGabb5310 10:08:15 PM Mar 09 2008
Come experience and enjoy Fincastle, Virginia or any of Botetourt County locality.
I think you will be pleasantly smitten.
OMBUDSMANINC 03:06:08 PM Mar 09 2008
www.Ombudsmaninc.Org is the best Non-Profit Government Oversight Agency. What they do is take complaints from the taxpayers and they investigate them and those being true they (Ombudsman Int'l) forward for the Justice Dept. for violations of Federal Laws. Great Oganization
BrownCalifornia 02:48:45 PM Mar 09 2008
Add Trenton, Missouri in Grundy County, which is 30 miles north of Chillicothe in Livingston County to your list. Trenton, part of the Green Hills Region, hosts the two-year North Central Missouri State College and two or three in-town parts (including the water park at Moberley Park). Nearby Crowder Park is terrific for hiking, fishing, and camping (group or individual sites). Jamesport, which is six miles away, is the heart of Amish country.
THS Class of '64
SlickWillie508 07:31:21 AM Mar 09 2008
Was raised in Hershey (PA) when it was a quaint town (1950's). Now looks like
Coney Island.
"Homeboy"
Code4216823698 03:51:31 AM Mar 09 2008
Christopher Lyons Independent Researcher. tiptopwebsite.com/netspendreferral4216823698
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