OT: Best Places to Live the Good Life

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Best Places to Live the Good Life

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Progressive Farmer magazine ranks the best places in America to live the

country lifestyle.

 

People have their own idea of the fabled American Dream. A house on the

beach. A loft in the city. A corner lot in the suburbs.

 

Or how about a place in the country, surrounded by plenty of land where

you can ride horses, raise a barn and grow your own vegetables in a big

garden? Progressive Farmer is all about that American Dream, and all

about helping people live it out.

 

" That's the thought behind our first-ever list of best places to live in

rural America, " says Jamie Cole, and editor with the magazine that

worked on the project. " We've identified this trend of people getting

back to their roots and getting back out on the land. Now we want to

help them find the right place to do it. "

 

But first, Progressive Farmer had to define what " rural " means. " That's

getting harder and harder, and often it depends on who you ask, " says

Cole. For some it's wide-open spaces, for some it's big farms with row

crops and livestock, for some it's a few acres on a quiet country road.

But there's no hard-and-fast rule for what is and isn't " country. "

 

" We looked at the different ways we could break the list down, and

ranking small towns just didn't seem to fit, " says Cole. " Ranking by

county allowed us to encompass several different ideas of the country

lifestyle. "

 

The counties in Progressive Farmer's top ten have it all-quaint small

towns, open spaces with lots of acres available, proximity to larger

towns and essential amenities. " There are a lot of places that can be

classified 'rural,' but there's no access to healthcare or the schools

aren't very good, " says Cole. " We wanted to offer people areas where

crime is low, education is a priority, and where there's ready access to

quality healthcare. "

 

Progressive Farmer's editorial board employed OnBoard LLC-the same

statistical research firm used by Money magazine for its Best Places

lists-to assist in the research. They then looked at the stats and gave

their own input. " Many of the places on this list were no surprise to

us, " says Cole. " This is a well-traveled staff, and we had a pretty good

idea of where these counties were before we ever looked at a number. "

 

ProgressiveFarmer.com's Top 10 List:

 

1. Fauquier County, Virginia

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_fauquier.html

" Rural, proud of it and trying to stay that way " could be the unofficial

motto of this county lying 45 minutes west of Washington, D.C. Rimmed on

the north by the Blue Ridge and then tapering to flat, fertile farm

fields in the south, Fauquier County has something to suit almost

everyone's tastes. Wineries are popping up in the foothills, while those

southern fields are still fertile with beef and milk cows, corn, and

hay. Former urbanites, tired of the grind, are pouring in like a cold

winter rain. With equestrian activities around every bend, no wonder

Fauquier is attractive. The Upperville Colt and Horse Show is one of the

oldest in the U.S. There's a 50-acre minimum subdivision size with the

goal of keeping some rural character, so that's the size of many farms.

Estates with names such as Mellon and Marriott abound.

 

Lots To Do: See antique biplanes at the Flying Circus Air Show, or visit

one of about 10 wineries and 12 bed and breakfast inns.

 

Land Prices: If you're lucky, you may find land zoned for ag at $3,500

per acre. Parcels zoned for housing are $30,000 per acre and up.

 

2. Oconee County, Georgia

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_oconee.html

Small, 8- to 10-acre farms dot the landscape.

A transitional county that retains its rural flavor, Oconee has been

discovered as a great place to live by people just across the river at

Athens, home of the University of Georgia. Residents also commute to

Atlanta, which is only an hour's drive away when traffic is light. And a

lot of folks have forgotten the city entirely, choosing to work from

home. Traditional ag is still present in the form of beef cattle and

pine forests, and Oconee County boasts some of the strongest 4-H and FFA

programs for kids anywhere. Subdivisions and demand for small places in

the country have driven land prices and housing through the roof. The

schools? Excellent. SAT scores are Georgia's best.

 

Artsy Crowd: Want pottery and fine silver? This is the place for it. An

emerging arts community thrives here.

 

Land Prices: They range from $8,000 or $9,000 per acre in less developed

sections to $20,000 and up where there's more immediate development

potential.

 

3. McPherson County, Kansas

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_mcpherson.html

First things first--pronounce it correctly. It's mac-FUR-son, and any

resident will tell you: " There's no FEAR in McPherson. " But there's

plenty to be proud of here. Main Street in the county seat offers quite

a set piece: the McPherson Opera House. Built in 1888, the 900-seat,

acoustically perfect auditorium is currently under renovation and

gearing up to be a showplace for the arts. McPherson's Main Street

thrives with niche businesses. Lindsborg, or " Little Sweden, " offers

heartland hospitality with a Scandinavian flavor. The county also has a

renowned arts community and puts on an annual Messiah Festival at Easter

that features an acclaimed performance of the G.F. Handel classic.

Agriculture continues to be a priority; the McPherson chamber holds a

Rural Appreciation supper every year hosting more than 800 local

farmers. Excellent schools and two private liberal arts colleges serve

the county.

 

Car School: McPherson College offers the world's only four-year

accredited degree in auto restoration. Students restore antique and

special-interest vehicles.

 

Land Prices: It's a bargain compared to some on our list. Lots from 3 to

40 acres range from $1,500 to $4,000 an acre; dry land starts at $750 an

acre; irrigated land starts at $1,500 an acre; and pastureland starts at

$500 an acre.

 

4. Callaway County, Missouri

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_callaway.html

Located almost in the middle of the U.S., Callaway County is a special

place, as any Callawegian (that's what a native calls himself) will tell

you. The land is scenic, from the fertile plains in the north to the

rolling hills and bluffs bordering the Missouri River at the southern

border. Jefferson City, the state capital, is just on the other side of

the river. And a few miles to the west is Columbia, where the main

campus for the University of Missouri sits. For big cities, take your

pick: St. Louis and Kansas City are both nearby. Callaway County can

boast of a low crime rate, good school systems and a low cost of living.

Though it's growing fast, the county has kept its warm, rural charm.

 

History: During the Civil War, the county declared itself a sovereign

state ( " The Kingdom of Callaway " ) after facing down and fooling Union

troops with logs painted black to resemble cannons. In 1946, Winston

Churchill gave his historic Iron Curtain Speech at Westminster College

in Fulton. The Winston Churchill Memorial in a rebuilt 1677 church from

England is a town treasure .

 

Land Prices: They range from $1,000 per acre for large parcels to $2,500

per acre for smaller, prime properties on paved roads.

 

5. Grafton County, New Hampshire

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_grafton.html

Though geographically large (it's twice the size, for instance, of

Callaway County, Mo.), Grafton County is dominated by the White Mountain

National Forest. So development isn't an issue. Lebanon, in the

southwest corner of the county, ranked No. 3 in Norman Crampton's " The

100 Best Small Towns in America. " The National Trust for Historic

Preservation named another town, Littleton, as one of its five Great

American Main Street communities in 2003. The schools are topnotch;

Grafton County is home to the Ivy League's Dartmouth College. Skiing is

quite the tourist draw for Northeastern metro areas. In spite of this,

the largest city still has fewer than 15,000 residents. The Old Man of

the Mountain, a facelike rock formation on Cannon Mountain, was featured

on New Hampshire's state quarter in 2000. The famous stone face

collapsed in 2003.

 

6. Gillespie County, Texas

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_gillespie.html

Scenic granite hills to the north and fertile pastures to the south, all

dotted with oak and cedar, give nearly anyone with a rural bent

something to love. An influx of newcomers--many of them retired from

successful careers-- alongside oldtime ranching families creates an

interesting contrast. Schools are absolutely top quality. Gillespie

County is home to Luckenbach, of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings fame.

But the cultural beauty here goes much deeper. German heritage is

everywhere you look on Main Street in Fredericksburg, right along with

art galleries, antique shops and even an in-town winery. It's only an

hour from San Antonio and just over that to Austin.

 

Creature Comforts: Roughly 60 restaurants serve fair to fine cuisine in

and around Fredericksburg. About 100 physicians work in or around the

modern medical center.

 

Land Prices: A mountainous 200-acre ranch with no facilities recently

went on the market for $3,500 per acre.

 

7. Sauk County, Wisconsin

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_sauk.html

A surprise waits around every bend in the road and over every crest of

the hill in this lovely county. Topographically, it is like a piece of

cloth someone wadded into a ball then let drop to the floor. When it

landed it had wrinkles: ridges and valleys, bluffs and bottomlands. No

wonder the father of all naturalists, Aldo Leopold, was inspired to

write " A Sand County Almanac " while living in a converted chicken coop

here in Fairfield Township. In addition to dairying and other

traditional ag, the county exerts a strong pull on conservation-minded

people even today. The Nature Conservancy designated the Baraboo Bluffs

region as one of its " Last Great Places " by virtue of unique rocks,

plants and animals. Everywhere the county is an outdoor paradise with

bike trails, hiking, skiing, snowmobile trails and lots of hunting. Yet

the small towns here are mostly thriving, driven by a dairy economy.

You'll also find herb and vegetable farms, organic potatoes and little

towns so quaint they will tug at your heart.

 

Nature: Parfey's Glen Natural Area, part of Devil's Lake State Park, has

rock formations and a glacial lake that make it one of the continent's

most beautiful spots. All of the dams have been removed from the Baraboo

River in the last few years, making it the longest free-flowing river in

the U.S.

 

Land Prices: Average prices are $2,500 to $3,000 per acre--and going up.

You might find acreage in the western part of the county for $1,800 to

$2,000 per acre. But on the edge of municipal areas, prices can be as

high as $30,000 per acre.

 

8. Wilson County, Tennessee

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_wilson.html

The eastern neighbor of sprawling Davidson County (Nashville), Wilson

County retains much of its good farmland but with subdivisions and small

farms playing a more prominent role now. You'll see plenty of cattle and

hay in the county. Small goat and sheep flocks abound, as you would

expect with so many small farms. Two major highways pass through the

county, making commuting to work easy. It's also attractive to industry:

Dell Computer, Bridgestone and Cracker Barrel all have major

installations here. Families are moving in because the schools are so good.

 

Fair Attraction: The Wilson County Fair draws about 420,000 people

through nine days each year, starting the third week of August.

 

Land Prices: They're all over the map, with highs of $8,000 to $10,000

an acre on the Nashville side while land farther east goes for $2,500 to

$3,000.

 

9. Eagle County, Colorado

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_eagle.html

Rocky Mountain peaks, ski resorts including Vail and secluded scenic

valleys have made Eagle more of a playground for the rich and famous

than an ag stronghold. Ranches are being sold for golf courses, but some

longtime families are comfortable here and don't plan on going anywhere.

" My dad and I started from scratch when we leased land in 1947 and

1948, " says Ben Wurtsmith, 71, of Burns, Colo. " We finally put together

a 400-cow outfit that's now run by my son, daughter and grandson. I

don't think my family would sell this ranch. We like this way of life,

and right now we seem to be the keepers of the land. "

 

Land Prices: Around here, if you have to ask you probably can't afford

any. The state legislature decreed long ago that ranches could not be

divided into parcels smaller than 35 acres. In Eagle County, parcels go

from $500,000 to a couple of million.

 

10. Rankin County, Mississippi

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_rankin.html

Rankin County, which lies just across the Pearl River from state capital

Jackson, is growing quickly. Still, it manages to maintain its rural

flavor. Generations of farmers have kept agriculture in the forefront in

the eastern part of the county. In the west, towns have grown but still

maintain a small-town feel. Growth is mainly retail, not industrial.

Schools are a big draw to Rankin; the county boasts the state's top

public and private schools. Three major hospitals are state-of-the-art

and a source of pride for residents; Woman's Hospital in Flowood

features world-class birthing suites. When we compiled our stats, Rankin

County's health-care index was higher than any rural county's in the

nation. And it's fun there, too. The Barnett Reservoir on the Pearl

River (above) is a popular spot for all kinds of water recreation, and

Brandon boasts excellent family athletic facilities.

 

It's a Home Run: Rankin County hits one out of the park for baseball

fans. The Atlanta Braves AA team moves from Greenville to Rankin County

next year, where they'll play in a new $20 million stadium in Pearl.

 

Land Prices: They run $7,000 to $8,000 per acre, and they're less as you

move east away from Jackson.

 

© 2005 Netscape Communications Corp. All rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

Well, I'll be blessed!

 

We have a town by that name in the Southern part of the Arrow Valley here.

 

Butch, do you know the history of that name by any chance?

 

1. Fauquier County, Virginia

http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/bestplaces/article_fauquier.html

" Rural, proud of it and trying to stay that way " could be the unofficial