Connections Matter
With bated breath, we watched the cell bars on our screens, teasing us with the promise of connection! Just a single bar, and we're solid to make a call to those saved in our contacts. And yet, a hotel reservation with its requisite forms? Now, that's a feat that demands the commitment of 2 to 3 bars. There were times when I was not sure we wouldn’t be sleeping on the side of the road. There's something real about range anxiety, isn't there?
At Moxietowns, we believe that broadband and cell service form one of the key lifebloods of any small town. Our recent sojourn to New Hampshire and Vermont reinforced this belief. Downtown areas hummed with reliable cell service, and the people we spoke to in these towns sang tales of top-notch broadband. For example, a charming town in New Hampshire, cradling a population of just under 20,000, recently collaborated with a local provider to deliver fiber. The 2020 pandemic, in a curious twist of fate, urged our federal torchbearers to shine a light on rural connectivity. The landscape is beginning to glow with the results, but we found it still spotty outside of the downtown areas.
The myriad of towns we journeyed through was like a tapestry of community and connection. Instead of focusing on individual small towns, why not embrace the spirit of small-town regions? Like the vibrant Monadnock Region in southern New Hampshire. Not only is it a stone’s throw from several MSAs, but these towns, in a heartwarming show of camaraderie, pool their rich offerings in arts, resources, and recreation. A shimmering gem? The Monadnock Art Open Studios Tour from October 7-9th. Imagine, a scenic drive during the zenith of the leaf season to discover 81 artists across 65 studios. We wish we were back on the road!
Now, to indulge our collective curiosities: Just how many small towns grace the United States, where our Moxietown journey commences? According to the U.S. Census Bureau: a staggering 19,500 incorporated places dot the nation. Here’s a pinch-me moment: while the bustling energy of major cities contains 40% of our population, a whopping 60% choose cities housing 50,000 or less. Now while many of those are tucked around the edges of our major metropolitans, that means 96% of these delightful places nestle populations under 50,000, with 75%, or 14,625 of these towns cherishing fewer than 5,000 souls.
In our drives through New Hampshire and Vermont, we didn’t just visit towns. We visited stories, dreams, and the beating hearts of communities. Can't wait to share more tales from the road!
