The Best Tiny Town in Every State

Mooresville, Alabama | Population: 59

Mooresville is a tiny town packed with history—in fact the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are transported to a 19th century village as they tour the historic landmarks, like the Brick Church, and Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, which all 59 of the residents work to preserve. Even the town’s post office is worth a look—it’s one of the oldest operating post offices in the United States and contains furnishings that date back
to before the Civil War.

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Talkeetna, Alaska | Population: 876

Talkeetna, Alaska is a tiny town with exceptional views, thanks to its location at the base of Mt. McKinley (Denali), the tallest mountain on North America. Tourists visit the remote village to take advantage of its nature-centric outdoor activities, which include riverboat tours, fishing, camping, flightseeing, rafting, and ziplining. About 876 people reside in Talkeetna, and its central downtown area with quaint buildings is a National Historic Site. Located about 2.5 driving hours from Anchorage, Talkeetna is off the beaten path, but the wonderful natural sights are worth the trek.

Bisbee, Arizona | Population: 5,575

Located in the Mule Mountains of Arizona, Bisbee began in the late 1800s as a mining community whose members’ livelihoods centered around the area’s copper and precious metals. Visitors today can relive the town’s rich history through its world-famous Queen Mine Tour which takes participants underground in hard hats, headlamps, yellow slickers. Sights above ground in the “Sky Islands” region of southeastern Arizona offer plenty nature and culture to explore. For example, this small town (population 5,575) draws visitors from around the world for yearly events like Bisbee 1000 The Great Stair Climb which scales nine flights of staircases—more than 1,000 steps—overlooking scenic Old Bisbee.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas | Population: 2,083

Whether you’re biking across the country or eager to escape in mountainous terrain, Eureka Springs is a small-town destination deserving of your attention. Settled between lush forests in the Ozark mountains, this town—once the fourth largest in Arkansas and now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places—combines natural beauty with awe-inspiring Victorian architecture and the creative works of more than 400 neighborhood artists. As you take in the sights, be sure to dedicate an afternoon to the legendary springs below the Historic District, which have been revered as rejuvenating, even miraculous.

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Carmel-by-the-Sea, California | Population: 3,876

Perched on a bluff overlooking white-sand beaches, Carmel-by-the-Sea stands out not only for its stunning coastal beauty, but also for its laid-back, luxurious downtown, distinguished by old-fashioned alleyways and architectural flourishes straight out of a children’s fairytale. Given that we’re talking about California, it’s perhaps no surprise that several notable celebrities rank among the town’s residents. In fact, Carmel has been luring actors, painters, and artists of all kinds since the 1906 earthquake first compelled San Francisco city-dwellers down the rugged California coastline in search of new possibilities.

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Silverton, Colorado | Population: 630

Out in the San Juan Mountains stands Silverton, the last mining camp in the country. Established in 1874 on land once populated by the Southern Ute tribe, this small town was settled after the Civil War by numerous miners digging up deposits of gold and silver from along the Animas river as well as workers of the steam railroads. By the time wives and families moved out here, town life was divided into two sections: one of saloons, dance halls, gambling, and prostitution, and another more “family-friendly” neighborhood plotted with churches. Low demand for mining caused operations to close in the early 1990s and the town to shrink from more than 2,000 people in its hey day to merely 630, but visitors can still come tour this history-rich stop by car or railway.

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Mystic, Connecticut | Population: 4,205

Plenty of places in Connecticut offer glimpses of early America. But Mystic stands out as the only town in the state where, against a background of small-town New England charm, you can exhaust yourself exploring the rich maritime history of the Long Island Sound. Don’t miss the historic vessels and living-history village at Mystic Seaport, the beluga whales at Mystic Aquarium, or the family-owned restaurant Mystic Pizza, made famous by a 1980s Hollywood film starring Julia Roberts.

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Lewes, Delaware | Population: 2,940

For as long as America has been a country, Lewes has been sitting beside the Delaware Bay, right at the point where the bay joins the Atlantic. That means “The First Town in The First State” appeals as much to beachgoers as it does to history buffs. Yes, there are white-sand beaches with calm, kid-friendly waters, not to mention fine seafood restaurants and classic shore attractions like pier fishing. But for many, the real fun comes in exploring the redbrick shop buildings in the town center and the charming old cedar-shingled homes that hug the walkable side streets.

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Apalachicola, Florida | Population: 2,328

Before the highways and high-rise beach hotels, countless small coastal communities dotted the coast of The Panhandle. However, today, Apalachicola endures as one the precious few places where you can still get a taste of Old Florida—“taste” being the operative word. Fishermen still pull delicious oysters and shrimp from Apalachicola Bay, and each November, the town hosts the Florida Seafood Festival, by far the most exciting local event in this deliciously sleepy, one-stoplight town. 

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Helen, Georgia | Population: 540

The year was 1969, and Helen, Georgia, once a thriving lumber town, had fallen into decline. Jobs were scarce and the desolated main street did little to attract the attention of new investors and residents. Just when things were at their bleakest, three local businessmen hatched a scheme to renovate the business district to inject new energy into the town. They called on a local artist who recast the town in a new alpine light and within months many of the old buildings had new German-inspired facades that began to inspire the imagination of tourists. Almost 50 years later, Helen is the third most visited town in the state of Georgia, and yet this little piece of Bavaria in Appalachia is home to little more than 500 residents.

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Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii | Population: 3,970

Out on the third largest island in Hawaii, Oahu, the small town of Haleiwa welcomes visitors and locals alike to find respite in its sandy pristine beaches and its laid-back vibes. The North Shore’s wide range of waves—from small and gentle in the summer to big and glassy in the winter—makes it an especially attractive spot to surf year-round. Once you’ve reached your fill of surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, and camping, you’re only a short drive from a 20-minute tour of the Dole Plantation, the Kahuku Motocross Track, and the 1,800-acre Waimea Valley Park.

Ketchum, Idaho | Population: 2,728

As happens with many small towns, Ketchum’s population has ebbed and flowed with its changing identity. Though first established within a booming mining district in 1880, the mountain town’s inhabitants switched from miners to shepherds—and it became the largest sheep shipping station in the country—some 30 years after the price of silver declined. Its current claim to fame, though, connects to the opening of a world-class ski resort. When the Sun Valley (“America’s First Destination Ski Resort”) opened its doors, Ketchum gained in popularity once more as a resort town where everyone including big names like Ernest Hemingway came for escape. It also serves as the entryway to any number of outdoor recreational activities, including camping, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and ice skating on the 756,000 acres of Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

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Makanda, Illinois | Population: 547

Sitting at the foot of Giant City State Park and surrounded by the Shawnee Hills in Southern Illinois, scenic Makanda is a popular destination for artists and nature lovers. The old railroad town was originally a hub for shipping produce to Chicago, but many citizens moved away when advancements in transportation limited job prospects. The town experienced a resurgence in the 1970s and 80s when student artists from Southern Illinois University were drawn to the town for its affordability. Today, Makanda is known for its art scene and continues to attract outsiders thanks to its eco-friendly resort, the Makanda Inn.

New Harmony, Indiana | Population: 763

New Harmony is the result of not just one, but two attempts at creating a utopian society. Established by Johann Georg Rapp, the leader of separatists from the German Lutheran Church called the Harmonie Society, the town was originally called Harmony. The religious group achieved economic success, but after ten years they wanted to relocate and sold it to Robert Owen, who had his own plan for a utopian community. He renamed it New Harmony and focused on education and personal wealth. While neither achieved utopian success, the town today appeals to residents and tourists for its unique atmosphere that blends the past with the future.

Fairfield, Iowa | Population: 9,892

In southeastern Iowa, a little city called Fairfield is growing in size and stature. The town of less than 10,000 has long been perhaps the largest hub for transcendental meditation practitioners and many of the local buildings are constructed in accordance with the principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture. Today Fairfield continues to be a small center of innovation with 150 nonprofits, 400 start-up companies backed by $200 million in venture capital, and an aggressive plan to make the city a model of sustainability by 2020.

Lindsborg, Kansas | Population: 3,383

In the heart of Kansas, Lindsborg stands as a reminder of the surge of Swedish immigrants who arrived in the state in the mid-1800s. Also called Little Sweden, this tiny city is home to Bethany College, a small Lutheran liberal arts college, as well as an art museum, quaint inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and several gift shops where dala horses of all sizes are on offer. Domestic tourists who want to experience a taste of Sweden without flying across an ocean can enjoy Swedish food, dancing, and entertainment at Svensk Hyllningsfest, a biennial festival Lindsborg residents put on to honor their beginnings as an immigrant town.

Augusta, Kentucky | Population: 1,163

Identified as one of the top eleven places to experience Kentucky’s cultural heritage, Augusta gives visitors a reason to visit the area around the Ohio River. Once responsible for a major portion of America’s wine production, today, it’s recreational areas, parks, and the O’Neil Riverwalk that make the town truly memorable, affording residents and tourists a relaxing waterfront view.

St. Francisville, Louisiana | Population: 1,700

In the heyday of the antebellum South, when farms dotted the surrounding countryside, St. Francisville played a vital role in the region, culturally and commercially, in part thanks to its being on the Mississippi River. Now, more than 150 years after the Civil War, St. Francisville serves as a popular jumping-off point for tourists visiting any of the half dozen or so plantation museums located nearby. Most can be reached by car in a half hour or less, often along routes that take you through majestic, tree-canopied lanes that meander through the bayous.

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Camden, Maine | Population: 4,850

Where the mountains of Maine meet the sea, there you’ll find Camden, a tiny northeastern town that lures wealthy urbanites to the shore each summer. Long home to the Penobscot Abenaki Indians, who called it Megunticook, an Algonquian word meaning “great swells of the sea,” the area was later settled by the English, who established it as a manufacturing city and shipyard. Today you’ll find yachting enthusiasts in place of ship builders, especially during the summer months when the town’s population triples.

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St. Michaels, Maryland | Population: 1,029

The self-proclaimed “Heart & Soul of the Chesapeake Bay,” St Michaels epitomizes the laid-back gentility of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. On the postcard-worthy main street, visitors take their pick of historic inns, fine restaurants, and upscale boutiques, while on the back streets, the well-preserved homes of long-ago merchants and mariners remind you St. Michaels originally prospered as a fishing and shipbuilding hub. Across the water, easily accessible via ferry, there’s Oxford—an even tinier time warp of a town well worth a half-day jaunt.

Rockport, Massachusetts | Population: 6,952