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Most Americans live in major metropolitan areas, but they don't necessarily enjoy it. Polls consistently find that a majority of U.S. residents would prefer to live in communities that are smaller than the ones they call home. This book by G. Scott Thomas focuses on the places that fit that bill - the nation's 551 micropolitan areas, small cities that are outside the metropolitan orbit.
Micropolitan America: A Statistical Guide to Small Cities Across the Nation features a full-page profile of each micro, including an array of 75 statistics and 10 ratings. The latter (which are expressed on a five-star scale) illuminate various aspects of life in each micropolitan area, ranging from its desirability for children or senior citizens to the strength of its educational system or its employment market. The book also contains an extensive essay on the current status of micropolitan America (concentrating on its strengths and weaknesses), rankings of the top 25 micros in 75 statistical categories, and lists of the 110 best areas in each of the 10 ratings.
Additional information, including sample sections from the book, can be seen at
www.countingthevotes.com/micropolitan.
About the author
G. Scott Thomas has been a journalist for almost 40 years, specializing in coverage of politics, demographics, sports, business, and education. He is the editor of CountingTheVotes.com, a political website. Thomas originated the concept of the micropolitan area for a 1989 magazine article in
American Demographics and a 1990 book,
The Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities. This is his 11th book.
