Small Southern Community

Mainstreet in the town Center of LaGrange, Ga

The idea of a small southern community is an image which is commonly shared between most southern people. It is an image influenced and ingrained via southern literature, media, and music. Specifically, it is most epitomized, in my opinion, by the small fictional town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffinth Show. Also, towns like Gentilly, which is meticulously described in gross detail in The Moviegoer also help perpetuate the idea of a small southern town. I myself came from small town in southern Georgia. LaGrange, Ga has an approximate population 26,000 which is fairly large for a typical southern town but in reality its layout is highly influenced by the conceptualized idea of what a southern community is thought to be. The town itself purposely promotes small business and actively limits the amount of commercialized chains from coming. This is all done to proactively retain the identity of a small southern town.

My question to you is what is your idea of a small southern town? What exactly makes it up – an image? A sense of community? And for those that don’t have much experience with life in a small town, it will be interesting to see what type of insight you offer. Also, enlighten us on the derivation of your knowledge of small town life so that we can see how and where from this image is portrayed.