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Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce | Lyndon, Vermont

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The Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce is located in the heart of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. We serve the communities of Lyndon, Burke, St. Johnsbury, Danville, Sutton, Sheffield, Waterford, Concord and more. We provide information on vacationing, business and residential relocation, and activities.

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12 Things that Make a Neighborhood Great

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12 Things that Make a Neighborhood Great

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When you're in the market for a new place to live, it helps to remember the golden rule of real estate: You're not just buying or renting a home - you are also becoming part of a neighborhood.

All neighborhoods are not created equal and there's no such thing as the perfect neighborhood; everyone has different needs and desires.

However, there are components common to all great neighborhoods. As you evaluate the best aspects of a prospective neighborhood, you'll want to match them to your daily needs.
1. Lifestyle match
Is the neighborhood in sync with your current lifestyle? Both renters and homebuyers tend to gravitate to areas with similar demographics. Just as a fantastic suburban neighborhood in a gated community may not be right for a young single professional, a family with three small children might not find a small condo in a hip downtown neighborhood to be the best fit for their lifestyle.
2. Pride in ownership
Pride in ownership is obvious when the residents maintain their homes and care about their neighborhood. Neighbors connect and create local groups that bring the residents together for the betterment of the area.
3. Low crime rate
Low crime rates give a neighborhood a sense of ease and calm. Crime rates are a quick way to tell if a neighborhood is improving or not, since everyone is concerned with safety and security. You can usually spot a transitional and improving neighborhood by the improvement in its crime rates.

An easy way to check this is to utilize Trulia's Crime Maps, where you can see the types and frequency of crime in the area and determine if it's the right place for you.
4. Great schools
For homeowners and renters with children, great schools top the list of what makes a great neighborhood. Trulia shows school ratings using data from Great Schools.

Integrating the data into map views lets house hunters see which schools are highly rated and also read reviews from actual parents of students in that district. Not only are great schools important for families with children, but they also make the surrounding neighborhoods more valuable and more sought after, keeping property values strong.
5. Outdoor activities abound
Being close to the outdoor adventures you love can sweeten the appeal of your neighborhood. Being close (or within a reasonable drive) to places to jog, sail, or pedal can keep you in love with your home. Proximity and access to tennis courts, neighborhood swim clubs, and golf courses are also qualities that keep your neighborhood on par.
6. Stepping back in time
There's something about an area with history that makes it very desirable. Tree-lined streets give neighborhoods a charming, older, and established feel.

These neighborhoods are usually very stable, with longtime residents and community support, which also helps encourage safety and low crime rates.
7. Access to medical care
Being close enough to get to a hospital or doctor's office quickly is key for many people, especially for seniors, retirees, and families with young children.
8. Family-friendly
Neighborhoods where plenty of families live are a real draw for buyers with children. There are more opportunities for children to play, socialize, and make lifelong friends. Carpooling groups and other children's programs are much more accessible when the neighborhood is overflowing with kiddos.
9. Close to public transportation
Easy access to public transportation is a fantastic plus for a neighborhood and an amenity for almost any lifestyle. From a commuting millennial to a retiree who wishes to keep the car at home, public transit is a solid upgrade to any neighborhood.
10. Nearby shopping and restaurants
If you want to join the hustle and bustle (and don't want to cook dinner every night), having great restaurants, shopping, and markets in close proximity is a must!
11. Nightlife and entertainment
Is there a nearby town center or downtown with movies, theaters, bars, and nightlife? This could be the one thing that makes your neighborhood come alive. This is a priority for anyone who is young and single, but everyone appreciates a neighborhood where the hot spots are within walking distance or a short cab ride away.
12. Walkability
Being able to leave the car keys at home and hit the pavement to walk to markets, shopping, restaurants, parks, and all the other amenities your neighborhood has to offer can alleviate a lot of road rage ... and make you fall even more deeply in love with your neighborhood.
What do you love about your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments below!

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12 Things That Make a Neighborhood Truly Great - Trulia's Blog - Real Estate 101

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When you're in the market for a new place to live, it helps to remember the golden rule of real estate: You're not just buying or renting a home - you are also becoming part of a neighborhood. All neighborhoods are not created equal and there's no such thing as the perfect neighborhood; everyone has different needs and desires.

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Weetas Real Estate Blog, Market Stats, Real Estate Analysis

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If you are looking for a new house remember that You are not just buying or renting that house, you are also buying into and becoming a part of the whole neighborhood around it.

A truly great neighborhood is one that is in sync with your current lifestyle, one that caters to your specific needs at this point in your life.

For example, a family with kids may look for a big house close to their kids' beloved school with easy access to a good park, while a single professional who works all day may look for an apartment close to their work with easy access to restaurants.

Nonetheless, there are some characteristics that define any good neighborhood, some must-have amenities that make it a great place to live in.

These are some of the most important qualities in a great neighborhood:

1. It has lots of trees

A green landscape with lots of trees can add a lot of value and character to a neighborhood.

Large trees and lush landscaping can offer some nice shade for your home during the summer time, plus it offers a quiet serenity all the time.

Elegant well-established neighborhoods often have a thriving, lush tree canopy, trees that have been growing there for years.

The shade and character offered by big trees can add more than just aesthetics.

2. You can move around in it without a car

Whether it is a natural hiking trail, a side street for bicycles or a nice street full of boutiques, the ability to move around in a neighborhood is a great quality.

Being able to leave the car keys at home and hit the pavement to walk to markets, parks, and all the other amenities your neighborhood has to offer can be a huge plus.

3. You can find essentials nearby

Wherever you live, convenient access to essential services and shopping is a must.

Imagine having to drive for 20 minutes to get some bread! No one wants that no matter how good the house is.

In addition to grocery stores and pharmacies, homeowners should have easy access to retail services, bank branches, and restaurants.

4. It is safe

As safety and security are everyone's concern, a community where you can let your kids walk to the nearest park and a woman can walk alone at night is definitely a safe haven.

That is why a gated community is always more expensive, no trespassers and more security for you and your family.

However, you can find that safety outside gated communities as well, just ask around and check online to make sure how safe the neighborhood is.

5. It offers easy access to medical care

Being close enough to get to a hospital or an emergency room quickly is key for a safe neighborhood.

Knowing that you can easily access medical care if you or anyone in your family need it will make you sleep better.

It does not have to be a big hospital, but there must be some sort of a clinic or an emergency room nearby.

6. It offers a variety of housing types

A great neighborhood should offer a variety of housing types that range in size, from small studio apartments to big houses.

If you are looking for a small flat close to your family's big house you should be able to find that in a good neighborhood, it should cater to all needs.

7. It provides a full range of public services

Who does not want a nearby green park where you can chill on a nice day? Or a nearby police station and fire station in case of emergency? Or access to public transportation if needed?

There should be a police station, fire station, park, easy access to public transportation and all public services in a good neighborhood.

8. It looks appealing

Last but not least, a great neighborhood should look appealing and feel inviting. Visual interest is an important factor in the place you live in.

A great neighborhood is one that features interesting architecture and design, and is comfortable and appealing.

It should have intriguing storefronts, clean streets with good lighting, and flowers and trees that look inviting.

It should make you happy and proud to call it home.

For more about choosing your new home see also:

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The Top Qualities That Define A Good Neighborhood

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If you are looking for a new house remember that You are not just buying or renting that house, you are also buying into and becoming a part of the whole neighborhood around it. A truly great neighborhood is one that is in sync with your current lifestyle, one that caters to your specific needs at this point in your life.

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Revamp the 'Ville is a community-driven planning process that will create more active Lyndonville streets, a more attractive community, and a thriving local economy. This project is funded by Vermont's Better Connections program.

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| Melissa Morris Ivone

I am in love with where I live. It's the perfect little, Stars Hollow-esque, small town with a few great bakeries, fantastic restaurants, and one incredible karaoke spot. One thing I've learned in my seven years here is that the people and their commitment to our community are what make living here great.

You don't have to be a Senator or Congresswoman to create change in this country. In fact, by thinking locally, you're able to take immediate and significant actions, big or small, that benefit you and the people around you. And the best part is that there is nothing stopping you from starting today!

So if, like me, you're looking to positively impact your community but aren't quite sure where to start, here are six ways you can contribute, along with some distinct examples to help you get started.

1. Be a Good Neighbor

🎶 Like a good neighbor, [your name] is there! 🎶 Sometimes the smallest thing, like saying hello to someone on the street, can have the biggest impact on a person's day. I've lived in neighborhoods where no one knew each others' names, and now I have neighbors who leave gift bags with cake on my doorstep. Take a guess which I prefer.

Getting to know the people around you will help you gain empathy for the community around you so that you can use your voice (foreshadowing!) to benefit all.
Here are some ideas for how to be a good neighbor:

Be the welcome wagon for new members of your community.

Offer to help homebound or vulnerable neighbors by picking up their groceries, shoveling their driveways, or bringing their trash cans up their driveways.

Use your skills to mentor other members of the community.

Throw a block party. (You know, once it's safe to do so.)

Learn more about the history of your neighborhood.

2. Use Your Voice

You have opinions. Why don't you use them for good? Now that you've gotten to know your neighbors, you can use your voice to help them out, either by supporting their businesses, amplifying their needs, or making sure they're aware of important happenings.

As a more introverted person, standing up and sharing my thoughts at a town meeting feels outside of my comfort zone, but thanks to social media, I can make myself heard from the comfort of my own home, with no one's glaring eyes on me.
Here are some ways that you can use your voice:

Write positive reviews of local businesses.

Share important information with an online community group.

Attend town meetings and offer your opinions. Show support for something good for your town or city or stand up in opposition to things you disagree with.

Vote. Not just every four years, but in every local election.

3. Give Your Time

It takes a lot of people to help a town or city run smoothly, and not just the ones who are employed to do so. Volunteering is a rewarding way to contribute and it can simultaneously provide you with valuable experience. Think about what skills you have (or want to build) that could be useful to others.

Perhaps during the pandemic you've found yourself with more free time because your previous hobbies involved crowded indoor spaces? There are endless opportunities to give your time, whether it's something you do on your own or by partnering with an organization doing its part to improve your neighborhood.
Here are some ways you can give your time:

Clean up a park.

Volunteer at your library.

Walk dogs at the shelter.

Organize a coat or food drive.

Build a little free library/pantry.

Volunteer for the Parent Teacher's Association (PTA).

Be a Girl Scout troop leader.

4. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Maybe time isn't something you have loads of these days. Are you in a position to uplift your town or city financially? I try to think of my dollars as little votes that I'm casting for things I support. If I want to have a say in what succeeds in my town, whether it's a new BBQ joint or a cute park I enjoy walking through, a simple way to do that is to put my dollars behind it.

Because of the pandemic, most local businesses, restaurants, shops, and organizations could use some extra support. So if you're deciding between making a purchase from a big box online retailer or your neighbor, Sara, who has her own gift shop two blocks away, consider where your dollars will go further.
Here are some ways you can support your community financially:

Shop local.

Donate to local organizations.

Sponsor a local event.

Support a GoFundMe of a neighbor who could use extra support.

Adopt a bench, sponsor a sidewalk brick, etc.

5. Paint the town green

No matter where you sit on the scale of environmental consciousness, everyone wants to live in a neighborhood that is clean, green, vibrant, and smells good. (Sidenote, my town actually smells like funnel cake.) You might be green at home, but what can you do for your town or city?

There are actions you can take that are good for the planet, even better for your community, and great for yourself. For example, in my town, we have a bike-share program where a volunteer group fixes up bikes and rents them out for $25 per year. A $25 bike is a bargain! Joining a food co-op supports local producers AND you get affordable, delicious, organic food. Planting a community garden adds a special green space to your neighborhood AND you get to meet people and enjoy time outdoors. It's a win-win!
Here are some ways you can make your town more green:

Take public transportation, walk, bike, skateboard, rollerblade, unicycle, etc..

Set up local recycling stations.

Use reusable shopping bags.

Start a community composting program.

Plant or participate in a community garden.

Join a food co-op or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

Plant a tree in your yard, if you have one.

6. Get involved in local government

It wouldn't be a She Should Run blog post if we didn't encourage you to consider a run for office! Women often think that they need to have a specific set of qualifications to participate in government, but we like to remind you that if you care, you're qualified. By joining your local government, you can impact all of the areas mentioned above and serve on behalf of your neighbors on an even greater scale.

Even if running for office isn't in your short term plan, there are a number of ways you can still get involved. If you're reading this post, you obviously want the best for where you live. That means your city or town could greatly benefit from having you, your ideas, and your compassion at the decision-making table. So grab a chair and get started!
Here are some ways you can get involved in local government:

Join a board or commission.

Join your condo or homeowners association.

Attend city council meetings.

Volunteer for a local candidate's campaign.

Run for City/Town Council.

Run for school board.

If you're looking to make a positive change in your community, you can start by joining ours.
The She Should Run Community has all of the curriculum, content, and connection you need to confidently take your first steps toward public leadership. Register today!

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6 Ways You Can Make a Positive Change in Your Community

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You don't have to be a Senator or Congresswoman to create change in this country. In fact, by thinking locally, you're able to take immediate and significant actions, big or small, that benefit you and the people around you. And the best part is that there is nothing stopping you from starting today!

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What makes a great neighborhood? Let's find out.

7 Keys to a Great Neighborhood

Keep in mind that when you're in the market for a new place to live, you aren't just buying a house; you're becoming a part of a community. Here are seven keys to a great neighborhood.

1. Matches Your Lifestyle

A great neighborhood is in sync with your lifestyle. Assess where you are right now. Is the neighborhood near entertainment, great shopping, or does it have the amenities you desire?

2. Ownership Pride

You can tell a lot about an area by how much pride homeowners take in maintaining their homes, property, and the overall neighborhood. A community where neighbors connect and create local groups that bring residents together is a great place to live.

3. Low Crime Rate

Low crime rates provide a sense of ease and calm. Crime is a quick way to discern if a neighborhood is great or not. Luckily for us, it's easy to check the crime rates in this digital age.

4. Excellent Schools

Great schools are another top priority for house shoppers and what makes a great neighborhood. Not only are excellent schools important for families, but it also makes surrounding properties more valuable and sought after, keeping property values strong.

5. Outdoor Adventures

Neighborhoods close, or reasonably close to great outdoor activities, sweeten the appeal of communities.

6. Family Friendly

A neighborhood with lots of other families is a real draw for buyers with children or grandchildren. It opens up so many opportunities for children to play, socialize, and make lifelong friends. It's great for parents too. A neighborhood overflowing with kiddos means more families to form carpooling groups and other children's programs.

7. Nearby Shopping & Entertainment

Having great markets, eateries, and a thriving nightlife closeby could be one of the things that make a neighborhood come alive. How close you want it depends on your lifestyle. However, everyone appreciates a community where the hot spots are within walking distance or a short ride away.

Not all communities are created equal. You'll need to evaluate the prospective neighborhood to see if it matches your needs at this point in your life.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

It's Time to Start Living Your Best Life

Scissortail has all the ingredients of a great neighborhood. You'll love coming home to your serene, gated community after a long workday. Located in one of the nation's top-rated school districts, your children will enjoy growing up with close friends in this tight-knit community.

With great shopping and dining options just a short drive away, and plenty of great outdoor adventures outside your door, Scissortail is the oasis you deserve.

It's time to start living your best life at Scissortail. Contact us today about upgrading your lifestyle.
I'm ready to Live My Best Life

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What Makes a Great Neighborhood? - Scissortail Development

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What makes a great neighborhood? Let's find out. Keep in mind that when you're in the market for a new place to live, you aren't just buying a house; you're becoming a part of a community. Here are seven keys to a great neighborhood. A great neighborhood is in sync with your lifestyle.

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Interactive chart of the Lyndonville, Vermont violent crime rate and statistics by year from 2006 to 2018. In the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime statistics are composed of four offenses: murder/homicide and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force.

The Lyndonville VT crime rate for 2018 was 345.72 per 100,000 population, a 34.37% increase from 2017.

The Lyndonville VT crime rate for 2017 was 257.29 per 100,000 population, a INF% increase from 2016.

The Lyndonville VT crime rate for 2016 was 0 per 100,000 population, a NAN% decline from 2012.

The Lyndonville VT crime rate for 2012 was 0 per 100,000 population, a NAN% decline from 2008.

Historical Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 Population

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Interactive chart of the Lyndonville, Vermont violent crime rate and statistics by year from 2006 to 2018. In the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime statistics are composed of four offenses: murder/homicide and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

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101 small ways to make a community better

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101 small ways to make a community better

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This story is part of a group of stories called

Because loving where you live is just the beginning-it's about making it better, too.

Sometimes the smallest things we can do for our neighborhoods can have the biggest impact. At Curbed, we know the power of a vegetable garden planted in a vacant lot or a library installed on a sidewalk. Here, we're sharing 101 urban interventions and ideas that show how even the tiniest changes can make our cities better places.

We've scoured cities all around the world for small ideas with huge potential, and asked some of our favorite urban thinkers for tiny ways to make outsized transformations. And we divided them all up into six sections to help focus your efforts. We hope this serves as a resource for urban inspiration-and that you'll contribute your own thoughts in the comments.

1. Redesign a crosswalk. In 2015, a handful of Seattle streets were reborn when a rogue designer painted colorful new crosswalks. Instead of wiping them away, the city made them a permanent part of the landscape, and even appropriated the idea, setting up a community crosswalk program so other neighborhoods could create their own colorful street art. Between promoting community pride and increasing pedestrian visibility and safety, it's a quick, colorful step forward. Check out Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica for more examples.

2. Green your parkway. Okay, there's gonna be a ton of regional slang to fight through here: You know that little sliver of property between the sidewalk and the curb? Whatever you call it, replace whatever's there with a stormwater garden that allows water to naturally percolate into the ground. It will not only alleviate flooding on your street, it will filter and clean the water on its way back underground.

3. Make a seat. "One small thing a person can do for your city is build an attractive bench and place it where it's needed. There is an urban seating deficit the world over and some of my favorite cities are those where people frequently build their own street seats. Here are bunch of examples we once catalogued in New York City." - Mike Lydon, The Street Plans Collaborative

5. Start documenting your street. Share the beauty of your surroundings, whether it's through an Instagram hashtag or a personal photo project. Once you start snapping pictures of everyday life there's no telling what you'll find or who you'll meet.

7. Plant a tree. Shade, serenity, sustainability- trees add so much to the urban landscape and ask so little. Many cities give away free trees, have planting services, or require tree planting permits, so check your local rules before you start digging.

8. Pick up more poop. "I have the habit of trying to pick up someone else's dog's poop every time I pick up my own. I am talking about old poop, as opposed to ambushing another dog's poop-in-progress." - Michael Bierut, partner,

9. Forge a fancier garbage can. If there isn't money in the municipal budget for murals or street art, there's still creative ways to beautify the streets. Providence, Rhode Island, turned everyday urban hardware such as fences and trash cans into colorful creations with the help of a local nonprofit, The Steel Yard. By commissioning artists to create striking bike racks and railing, the city gets more exciting, eye-catching infrastructure.

10. Set up a small, interactive community art project on your corner. "Share your art with people in small ways. With our As You Wish project, our artists made versions of people's wishes with cheap materials we had on hand. With Forensic Friends, people stopped by our artists on the street and described a friend like you would if you were doing a forensic sketch of a criminal. But, instead, the artist draws a portrait of a friend from the description. With Listening Booth, we simply have somebody sit and listens to anybody who wanted to talk." -Jim Walker, founder and director of the Big Car Collaborative

12. Fight crime with neon. Especially in a city strapped for cash, streetlights are low on the priority list as they're expensive to install, maintain, and keep powered. But they've also been proven to deter crime. Two Philadelphia artists took it upon themselves to brighten a dangerous South Philly block with a " neon mural." The illuminated work of art has become a social-media destination after dark, putting eyes on the street at a time when the neighborhood needs it most.

13. Begin a guerrilla garden uprising. Green thumbs often have private plots and backyards to grow, but they can also get on the front lines. Surreptitiously filling in unkempt lots or small patches of untendered land with plants and flowers, or tossing a "seedbomb" at a hard to reach patch of land, turns lost space into lush greenery. Richard Reynolds, one of the leaders of the movement, maintains a blog with invaluable tips on how to reclaim "unloved public spaces."

14. Look underground. "So much of what happens at the city surface is impacted by what happens underground. From sewer systems to bedrock geology to culverts, what happens below the urban crust can highlight the history of a place, revealing why and how a city develops. In Lexington, SCAPE recently went subterranean, tracing the historic buried stream channel of Town Branch, and creating a podcast tour that describes this forgotten waterway and how it shapes the city's past and future." - Kate Orff, landscape architect, principal at SCAPE, author of Toward An Urban Ecology, New York City

1 5. Make an alley into a public art studio. Back in 2004, Detroit homeowners frustrated by people tagging and vandalizing their property decided if their garages were going to be canvases, they might as well benefit the community. Now, those alley-facing doors have become public galleries thanks to The Alley Project, which works with more than 100 young artists to showcase their work, hold art classes, and beautify the neighborhood.

16. Get lit. Sometimes it only takes a few spotlights to completely transform a city block. Casting light on a forgotten building can bring a renewed sense of appreciation and community. Boston's new strategy to light its city hall has enlivened its famous adjacent plaza, even for those who hate the "Brutalist punching-bag" of a building.

17. Turn infrastructure into t-shirts. It's a simple way to achieve instant street cred. German art group Raubdruckerin uses a "pirate printing" technique that, in essence, screenprints manhole covers, a process that creates graphic T-shirts with a clever connection to different European cities.

18. Fix up your porch. "In a city like New York it's easy to burrow inside your house and ignore the outside. But I have a neighbor with a stoop who has plants on every step, and a neighbor with a tiny vestibule who has managed to fit in one pretty copper pot by her front door. Both of their houses look brighter and friendlier, like they bothered to accessorize." - Alexandra Lange, architecture critic,

20. Make faces. " Eyebombers " believe that there's nothing a bit of humor can't fix. By taking "googly eyes" and placing them on inanimate objects around the city, eyebombers add a bit of Muppet-like merriment to public space. How can you be in a bad mood when the garbage can is giving you a goofy grin?

21. Go chairbombing. Public benches and seats have been removed in many cities due to fears of loitering, which often has the sad side-effect of discouraging community interaction (cue Forrest Gump). To encourage people to sit, share, and socialize, Brooklyn group DoTank started chairbombing, upcycling discarded pallets into street furniture they set up on empty sidewalks, reclaiming the corner for the public.

23. Turn utility boxes into civic canvases. In Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood, industrial metal utility boxes line the streets. Instead of seeing them as a mandatory, unusable part of the landscape, a group of local art students wrapped them in colorful artwork. This simple, striking beautification project, co-funded by the University of the Arts and Washington Square West Civic Association, turned more than a dozen aesthetic afterthoughts into colorful neighborhood symbols.

24. Turn a freeway overpass into a coworking hub. LA writer Kailee McGee was inspired to change up her work routine while on the road. Or more accurately, over the road. With the help of a handful of friends, McGee set up school desks on the apex of a pedestrian bridge over the 5 Freeway to create a pop-up, open-air coworking hub, complete with Wi-Fi and LaCroix (but of course). Nothing beats a change of perspective.

25. Network your alleys. Reinventing an alley can turn a dark, scary space into a vibrant place. An even better idea is to combine several alleys into a network of public spaces that stretch on for blocks. In Vancouver, the project More Awesome Now, is turning alleys (they call them laneways) into assets with basketball courts, foosball tables and shady cafes. And they'll all be connected with a way-finding system using bright paint and eye-catching graphics.

26. Create a fit path. As part of the Market Street Prototyping Festival, a San Francisco celebration of creative urban intervention, one design team decided that activating the sidewalk required a different kind of action. The City Fit Path proposal, a simple-to-set-up series of exercise stations and prompts, encourages easy and equitable workouts, no gym membership required.

27. Create a community sign initiative. Many marquee streets in American cities share a certain edge, history, and a organic form of verbal branding that helps draw attention, pedestrians, and customers. The CoSign project in Cincinnati's Northside neighborhood used visuals to makeover a neglected block, commissioning artists to transform staid storefronts with arresting, original signage. After redecorating another street in Covington, Kentucky, the project is poised to hang a shingle, so to speak, in cities nationwide.

30. Open a gallery in your living room. If you think your apartment is cramped, maybe all it needs is a few paintings on the wall: Paul Soto turned his 300 square-foot apartment in Los Angeles into a functioning gallery.

32. Fix up your local park. Does barely functional equipment take the fun out of your local playground? Would new basketball courts or equipment make the park next door more enticing? To help guide those seeking to get their public parks in tip-top shape, the Center for Urban Pedagogy created a guide for building coalitions, activating the community, and petitioning local government for change. It's New York-centric, but the lessons can be applied everywhere.

33. Build a pop-up playground. "Explode the static notion of the playground. No city resident is too old to play, and no city space is too small to become a playscape, even if just for a few hours. Gather loose parts (wood scraps, old tires, cardboard boxes, stones) and sponsor a session of Pop-Up Adventure Play. When people of all shapes, sizes and colors come together to play in unexpected ways, communities grow stronger." - Kate Tooke, Sasaki Associates

34. Start an urban orchard. This is more of a long-term solution to supporting parks and local agriculture. But isn't the idyllic vision of sitting under an apple tree a few blocks from your apartment worth the wait? The Chicago Rarities Orchard Project (CROP) will literally take root in the city's Logan Square neighborhood, in a lot adjacent to one of the area's main intersections. The planters/planners also have plenty of additional fruit trees growing in a nursery, ready to be spread, Johnny Appleseed-style, to different sites across Chicago.

35. Build swing sets for adults. With the value of play proven to be a source of stress relief and inspiration, there's no reason grown-ups can't get in on the fun. An increasing number of cities and designers are providing adults with places to relax, recreate, and workout. The 21 Swings project by Tous les Jours transforms a busy median in Montréal into a highly visible space for fun.

36. Plan a pop-up dog park. If your neighborhood doesn't have a place for dogs to run free, that's nothing that a few yards of temporary fencing can't fix. A pop-up dog park that's become part of a weekly Sacramento farmers market became so popular it inspired a permanent park for pooches to be built nearby.

37. Ask kids to help design their own playgrounds. Participatory design shouldn't have an age limit. Involving children in the creative process for local parks and playgrounds not only guarantees the end results will be more engaging to the end user, but also it fosters an early appreciation for design. Firms such as Public Workshop are renowned for working with a much younger set of client when making play spaces a reality.

Check out this before/after photo of our #ParkletSF of the week: #parklet at Caffè Greco designed by @rebargroup. pic.twitter.com/fIg1IVgR4B
- Pavement To Parks (@pavement2parks) July 26, 2016

40. Give directions to your entire city.With a mission to get more "feet on the street," the Walk Your City project promotes more conversational, community-oriented wayfinding. Community groups can visit the site, create a set of custom signs (with messages such as "It's a 2-minute walk to the library"), and get them shipped and ready to install. The concept has already played out in cities such as Mount Hope, West Virginia, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

41. Map a 40-minute walking circle around your house. Measure and draw a two-mile radius circle around your house to determine your " walkshed," the places you can easily walk. You'll realize how many local amenities are closer than you think-most people can walk two miles in about 40 minutes-and you'll be more likely to hoof it and support local businesses.

42. Don't forget the suburbs when building bike lanes. Making your neighborhood safe for cycling is important, but shifting suburban commutes can make a massive difference in safety and larger transportation patterns. Initiatives like the Family Friendly Bikeways program in Chicago help connect riders across local cities and towns.

Truly everything can be shared. Even kayaks. https://t.co/OaLxfNJgOP
- Sharing Summit (@SharingSummit) September 14, 2016

45. Paint a pop-up bike lane. Rather than talk about the impact of new bike lanes on the Macon, Georgia, transportation network Better Block went ahead and brought the vision to life with the help of 498 cans of paint (and support from the city and the Knight Foundation). The pop-up paint job, which linked together existing bike lanes, may be a precursor to expanding the city's cycling infrastructure.

46. Take the bus. "Get lost in your city. Often times we avoid certain areas or simply stay within our comfort zone, but the true city dweller should attempt to reach all areas of the place they call home. You'll be surprised to find that not everything you read-both positive and negative-is true." -Germane Barnes, , designer, and city planner, Opa-Locka, Florida

47. Obey traffic laws. Cars that swerve into bike lanes or don't watch out for two-wheeled commuters definitely deserve to be called out and ticketed. Bikers who ignore rules don't help the cause for better bike lanes and better enforcement. Pedestrians should pay attention while crossing busy streets. Everyone: Follow the rules of the road.

48. Bicycle to new parts of your city. Slow Roll, a community bike ride series that started in Detroit, gathers riders to interact and explore new parts of the city, promoting riding in new neighborhoods, as well as expansions of bike lanes and bike share systems into underserved areas.

49. Form a bicycle-friendly district. The city of Long Beach, California didn't just want to encourage cyclists to frequent local stores and restaurants, it wanted to prove that people on bikes were good for small businesses. The bike-friendly business districts provide amenities for two-wheeled patrons like racks and discounts, and serve as hubs for the city's growing bike network.

50. Protect your bike lanes with plants. Vancouver took the protected bikeway one step further, turning the typical painted lanes into a planted greenway. Using self-watering planters instead of utilitarian poles not only safely separates bikes from cars, it improves the streetscape for all its users.

51. Fix up your bus stop. Is there a more bland and boring seat than a typical urban bus stop, a functional, feckless box of plastic? These key parts of urban infrastructure desperately need an upgrade, and people around the world are taking action. Community groups met that call to action with sharp redesigns, from Bus Stop Moves in Cleveland, which covers station walls with fitness instructions, or Ride, Rally, Ride in Memphis, which transforms transit stops into cycling hubs.

52. Build your own bridge. Nobody is suggesting that you try to one-up Robert Moses, but even a small span can make a difference. New York artist (and chief engineer) Jason Eppink often walked beneath the leaky Hell Gate Bridge Viaduct which flooded the sidewalk with a large puddle of dirty water. His satirical remedy, the Astoria Scum River Bridge, a miniature elevated wooden walkway, earned plaudits from locals, and eventually shamed the bridge owners into fixing the leaky pipes.

#Cyclehack #vienna w.
>> The Strap-on #Cobblestone #Cocktailshaker <<
Using Vienna's deficient streets to mix it! pic.twitter.com/P1YvbCecsI
- Smarter Than Car (@smarterthancar) June 26, 2016

54. Just r ide a bike. Yes, riding a bike really can save the world. According to a 2015 study by the University of California at Davis, shifting more urban trips to bicycling, and cutting car use accordingly, could reduce urban transportation CO2 emissions by 50 percent worldwide by 2050. That seems especially feasible when you consider that half of all urban trips are a very bikeable six miles or less.

55. Organize a park-and-pedal. David Montague, the owner of a Boston company that makes foldable bicycles, wanted to encourage cycling in an area where many faced long commutes, and hit upon an ingenious hybrid solution: Organize a cycling-based version of the park and ride systems utilized by city commuters. His Park&Pedal system, which utilizes existing parking lots and trails to encourages people to split their commute between biking and driving, now includes 19 lots around the Boston area.

57. Organize a bar crawl. Phoenix's Meet Me Downtown functions as a weekly after-work mixer as well as a fitness event that gets people out on the streets and into local bars and restaurants. A variety of routes send participants into new neighborhoods and participating businesses offer deals for those who walk or run.

59. Get to know your neighbors. "We bring the trash cans out every Monday for our 85-year old neighbor and keep an eye out for him generally. We swap our lemons for another neighbor's superior kale. My husband bartered with our house painter neighbor: he designed the painter's website and the painter painted our house! We are on a first-name basis with all the store owners in our little 'downtown,' from bakery to bookstore. Our neighborhood has a Yahoo group-so old school-and through it I've found my daughter's preschool, a new dog walker, numerous babysitters and first learned about the hood's fabulous 4th of July parade. A neighborhood feels pretty special when we know we're all looking out for each other." - Allison Arieff, editorial director, SPUR

60. Provide dignity. Extend basic services to help your city's most marginalized residents feel more welcome. Mobile showers and easily accessible public restrooms give people a moment of privacy and peace. The good news is, people want this and it works.

61. Start a YIMBY group. Across the country, pro-development, pro-housing fans are organizing against NIMBYs with unified YIMBY-that's "Yes In My Backyard"-movements. Head to a YIMBY conference for new ideas.

63. Don't eat so much meat. A 2016 Oxford University study showed reducing the amount of meat in Western diets by half could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save over $31 trillion (trillion, with a T) in healthcare costs. The # MeatlessMonday movement has gotten governments and schools all over the world pledging to stick to veggies one day of the week. (If you already don't eat meat the rest of the days of the week, you're ahead of the game.)

64. Volunteer. There are dozens of groups in your neighborhood doing their part to make your city a better place. Spend a few hours pitching in.

65. Share your idea with your neighbors. "Often, your neighbors need a little help figuring out how to make their ideas happen, and you can easily share suggestions or donate money on Neighborland. There is real power in sharing our ideas openly, connecting with others who share the same desire, and working together to make great ideas happen, like this streetscape improvement for the Mission District of San Francisco." - Dan Parham, founder, Neighborland

Check out the the photo credit!
Jamaica Plain residents belly up to a homemade snow bar http://t.co/0vnZgGEVG8 via @BostonGlobe
- Matt Fecteau (@MFect78) February 24, 2015

66. Turn snow piles into sidewalk ice bars. In 2015,Boston architect Chris Haynes and his wife Kristy Nardone turned#Snowmageddon into happy hour by carving a bar out of the massive mounds of snow accumulated on their block. Inspired by the Quebec Ice Hotel, their subzero watering hole boasted Bluetooth speakers, lighting, and the finest Moscow Mules (no word on whether the ice was hand-carved).

67. Talk to someone for 10 minutes. In Charlotte in 2015 and 2016, the Take 10 project recruited city workers to function as "ambassadors" who engaged in simple, direct conversations with residents, asking them what they like about their city and how to make it better. Crowdsourcing at its finest, the initiative also gave people a direct, personal connection with the municipal employees that make their hometown work.

68. Set the table for community conversation. After breaking bread with someone, it's hard to consider them a stranger. That's the philosophy that informed The Longest Table, a 400-person feast put together by community groups in Tallahassee, Florida, to break down social barriers and get neighbors talking to each other.

70. Take a person experiencing homelessness out for lunch. "Listen to their story. A lot of people just want to be heard or seen as human. I think it would be emotionally very hard to be ignored or overlooked the way our community is in San Francisco. How did they lose their housing? It's often unexpected. San Francisco's homeless population is diverse and ever-changing. Some people lose their housing because they went through a medical bankruptcy after a partner became terminally ill. Some are veterans who fought in our wars. It's always interesting, and then you start to understand the sheer scale of the problem and how difficult it is to keep people housed in this city, with all of their idiosyncratic financial or medical needs." - Kim-Mai Cutler, columnist at Techcrunch

71. Become a tour guide for your neighborhood. You don't have to live in a famous zip code to show people around. Using Vayable, you can create and share guided tours of the hidden gems in your neighborhood, or discover a unique experience nearby that allow you to become a tourist in your own city.

72. Join a time bank. Think of a time bank like a community ATM where you can deposit and withdraw "hours" of skills like cash. If there's not one near you, the documentary Time as Moneyhighlights several successful programs around the world and provides inspiring resources.

73. Create a community guide to tactical urbanism. Turning DIY projects into long-term additions can feel like a regulatory and zoning obstacle course. Officials in Burlington, Vermont, mindful of their citizen's commitment to community projects, drafted a Tactical Urbanism and Demonstration Projects Guide, making it easier to launch neighborhood projects or organize small-scale interventions, and giving active citizens a green light to experiment.

74. Learn to give a great presentation. Community improvements always need ace advocates, and in addition to taking the time to listen to your neighbors, becoming a better speaker can help you spread the word and get local government on your side. The Neighborhood Design Center has a great guide.

76. Open a creative incubator. The community nonprofit CreateHere opened a space on a blighted Chattanooga street with a simple goal to improve the neighborhood. Over the course of five years, CreateHere helped dozens of artists relocate to Chattanooga, stimulating an estimated $4 million in local real estate investments and launching 300 small businesses.

78. Smile, particularly at strangers. "If you are feeling Southern enough, actually speak. It instantly makes the world a better place." - Carol Coletta, senior fellow with The Kresge Foundation's American Cities Practice

80. Start a public mapping project. If action follows knowledge, than getting good data about your neighborhood can be the first step toward improvement. Nonprofits such as Public Lab offer the advice and knowledge needed to create citizen-made maps. You can also build DIY sensors to collect key data points such as pollution levels, which can help inform larger public debates about the environment.

"Grocery shopping in the Stone Age?" Overheard #PAFMemorial pic.twitter.com/O14y2tqaV2
- travellingcari (@travellingcari) September 19, 2016

81. Put your treasures where the public can see them. The need for sculptures and installations extends far beyond major parks, central squares, and high-trafficked tourist areas. Illuminating the off-the-beaten-path places with high-profile public art, such as the Picasso statue found amid New York University student housing, or Marc Chagall's Four Seasons mural, set amid the Exelon plaza in Chicago's Loop, gives the impression that wonders may hide around any city corner.

82. Just show up. "Most public zoning and development meetings are dominated by people who have a vested interest in the project. When a citizen shows up without a fish to fry, and expresses an opinion for the good of all, it's a breath of fresh air." - Jeff Speck, author, Walkable City

84. Create a swimming pool from a dumpster. This ain't no country club, it's a simple, quick urban intervention that turns a neighborhood gathering into an impromptu pool party. Simple, down-and-dirty DIY swimming holes can make all the difference on a summer day. It's highly recommended you don't use a fire hydrant as a water source, however, since it may draw the attention and ire of city officials.

"Before I die I want to dance at my granddaughters' weddings" from Tonawanda , New York. pic.twitter.com/Bcx2FLQRbG
- Before I Die (@BeforeIdiewall) August 29, 2016

85. Reflect and connect with your neighbors. "Create an anonymous prompt in public space using simple tools like chalkboard paint, stencils, and chalk." - Candy Chang, Before I Die, New Orleans

86. Brainstorm a community vision. Community planning discussions benefit from some levity, some understanding, and a lot of visual aids. The St. Paul, Minnesota-based Friendly Streets Initiative holds community visioning events that display large images of potential neighborhood improvements, asking neighbors to vote for their favorites via Post-It. It's a quick, effective, and entertaining way to take the temperature of the neighborhood.

87. Shop local. It's simple, straightforward, and an easy addition to your routine that supports local businesses, provides community jobs, and reduces transportation costs and carbon emissions.

88. Imagine housing in impossible places. "I love that in Indianapolis, near their new transit center, they looked at a traffic lane as they were redeveloping, and realized they didn't need it. So they put out an RFP for a developer to turn it into housing. Ironically the microhousing that was created is bolted onto a parking garage-which will be ultimately redeveloped, I would hope." - Gabe Klein, founder,

Was in Indy last week. Love how they took a travel lane, turned it into micro units & bolted it onto parking garage pic.twitter.com/hBZToFWPXt
- gabe klein (@gabe_klein) May 23, 2016

89. Help build a better shelter. Sometimes, the best ways to help build your community is to help others who are feeling apart and alone. The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, along with architect Corrie Rosen, created a series of guidelines, called Building Dignity, to help construct more comforting and effective shelters for victims of domestic violence. The plans include soliciting donations from the community, such as asking interior decorators to "adopt" a room, and asking a local steel artist to create artful window displays that projected both strength, security, and beauty.

90. Start a mobile produce market. Running a new route through the city's food deserts, a decommissioned Chicago Transit Authority bus transported market-fresh produce-not riders-for eight months in 2017. The Fresh Moves project helped underserved neighborhoods get access to the same farmer's market finds sold in other parts of the city.

91. Set up neighborhood Wi-Fi. In a digital world, neighborhoods without strong wireless connections effectively lose out on other important network connections, ones that can help provide jobs, opportunity, and education. In the Rod Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, an often isolated pocket of the borough, a local non-profit initiative decided to bridge that gap by building its own mesh wireless network, creating a tool for local communication and a platform for community development.

93. Fall in love. "I think if we love the places we live, we'll make better decisions about them. Even in communities that are lacking, we can at least love the way the morning light hits the trees or any little thing. And with a little space for love to grow, we can transform our own expectations, inspire others to do the same, and over time, make real changes to improve the world around us." - Ryan Gravel, founder of and the originator of the Atlanta Beltline

94. Write an op-ed. If you've got a good idea, share it. If you want to change your neighborhood, start building a coalition. Explain your plans and help build grassroots support.

95. Turn old bridges into something beautiful. Post-industrial sites pockmark many major cities, remnants of old industries that often fall into disrepair. Trust a Rust Belt city to find a way to make this infrastructure beautiful. The Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC) hosted a pop-up project for a vacant covered bridge, showcasing new uses for the old crossing. It was so successful, that the city embarked on an official planning process to renovate and reuse the steel structure.

96. Plant a community garden. Rolling up your sleeves and digging in the soil offers a great way to meet neighbors and collaboratively add something to your neighborhood. To get started, the American Community Gardening Association offers a set of resources and recommendations on how to manage and maintain a public patch.

99. Think bigger. "I think the best small thing we can do for our neighborhoods is educate ourselves on the kind of huge changes American cities need to pursue to build their way out of the terrible housing crises most prosperous cities face, divest themselves of auto-dependent infrastructure, improve access to education and job re-training, ruggedize themselves for a changing climate and drop their greenhouse gas emissions to zero in the next couple decades. Almost everything else is window dressing." - Alex Steffen, writer, speaker, planetary futurist, The Heroic Future

100. Throw an amazing block party. Don't forget the ice cream.

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101 small ways you can improve your city

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Because loving where you live is just the beginning-it's about making it better, too. Sometimes the smallest things we can do for our neighborhoods can have the biggest impact. At Curbed, we know the power of a vegetable garden planted in a vacant lot or a library installed on a sidewalk.

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These are the top American cities with the best quality of life says U.S. News & World Report.

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While there has been some movement to the suburbs in the pandemic, major cities remain attractive places to live and work. If you're reevaluating where you call home or considering relocating this year, here are Bankrate's picks for the best places to live in 2022.

Best places to live in 2022

Methodology

To identify the best places to live, Bankrate examined the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. through the lens of an essential question: What makes a place livable and lovable? Applying a 10-point scale, we considered several factors, including:

What it costs - This past year, the definition of "affordable" evolved as home prices continued to hit records. We compared each city's cost of living data from the Economic Policy Institute with per capita personal income from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to get an idea of how much of your take-home pay you can actually take home. We also looked at year-over-year home price data from real estate brokerage Redfin to understand where prices are surging faster than others, and where you might be able to buy a home for a bit less.

How it feels - To get a sense of the quality of life in these cities, we considered overall well-being based on the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index; employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; culture, outdoor opportunities and weather based on information from each city's convention and visitors bureau and historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and safety, including crime rates based on FBI data (or local reporting for cities not captured in government data).

Who's moving there - We also evaluated the net migration of each city over the past year. Each city on this list experienced a positive net migration, which means that more people moved in than moved out.

Additionally, where data is available, we have included a diversity score this year. The figures, based on the National Equity Atlas diversity index, are adjusted for our 10-point scale. The higher the score, the more you can expect to have the opportunity to live alongside, work with and learn from people from different cultural backgrounds and races.

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

The top spot on our list goes to Raleigh, North Carolina. As one of the anchors of The Research Triangle, the city continues to attract young employees and major companies to plant roots in The Tar Heel State. Last year, Apple announced plans for a new East Coast campus in the area, which will create at least 3,000 new jobs - and more reasons for more people to want to move here. Outside of the office and the research laboratory, Raleigh is quickly climbing the cultural ranks as a place to eat, drink and enjoy the outdoors, with a mild climate that gives residents ample time to disconnect. Plus, Raleigh offers what so many cities struggle to deliver: low crime rates.

2. Charleston, South Carolina

If you're enjoying the freedom to work from home, why not enjoy the charm of Charleston? According to a 2021 LinkedIn survey, the city is quickly becoming a remote work hotspot. You might need some discipline to stay productive, however, as the city boasts lots of reasons to put off that next project: rooftop bars, decadent Lowcountry cuisine and nearby beaches all within a short drive from historic downtown. If you don't want to work from home, Charleston still has you covered with opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing (Boeing, Volvo and Mercedes all have large operations here) and tourism.

3. Austin, Texas

Will Austin ever slip from our best places to live? With affordability becoming more of an issue, potentially - but for now, the capital of The Lone Star State continues to attract major employers to set up shop or expand their footprints here, and new residents along with them. Throughout the pandemic, more than 150 companies announced plans to relocate operations to Austin or add more jobs to existing offices. Whether you're moving here to work for Apple, Dell, Tesla or another major tech name, you'll have plenty of reasons to play, too: From early morning bike rides (Bicycling magazine named the city one of the top 20 most bike-friendly in the country) to late-night jam sessions on Sixth Street, Austin offers a mile-long list of reasons to forget about work.

4. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

OKC is so much more than OK. With an unemployment rate below 2 percent (as of November 2021) and major employers like Integris Health, Hobby Lobby, Boeing and Paycom, Oklahoma City has been attracting droves of new residents. That pace isn't slowing down, either: By 2040, the metro area is on track to exceed two million residents. The city gets around 235 sunny days a year, and you can enjoy that weather on land via 10 interconnected trails or on water with 30 nearby lakes and kayaking and whitewater rafting opportunities. All that fun doesn't come at a big cost, either: The median price of a home in Oklahoma City was $235,000 as of November 2021, according to data from Redfin.

5. Tampa, Florida

What Florida doesn't have - a state income tax - is one of the many upsides of a move to The Sunshine State. Young job seekers are also flocking to the state, specifically to Tampa, for what the area does have: an affordable cost of living; nearly 80 colleges, universities and technical schools in the Tampa Bay area; and high-profile companies like Raymond James, Citigroup and USAA. You might also opt for the chance to work from home if you're thinking about this location. The area is just behind Charleston on LinkedIn's ranking of remote-friendly big cities. When you aren't working, you'll find a friendly and diverse city, with employees of more than 130 nationalities and a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index, which ranks cities on how welcoming they are to the LGBTQ+ community.

6. Boise, Idaho

Boise welcomed lots of new residents throughout the pandemic, but the city didn't just start becoming desirable in the last couple of years. It's always offered a high quality of life, with more than 200 sunny days each year and the backdrop of the scenic Boise Mountains. Micron, HP and Albertsons are a few of the major employers in the area, and Boise is fast becoming a talked-about destination for start-ups and tech companies. One challenge the city faces: Its promise of "low cost of living" is quickly fading, as demand continues to fuel a shortage of options for homebuyers.

7. Providence, Rhode Island

As gas prices continue to rise, you might just want to drive to Providence and forget your keys: The city has the highest walkability score of the destinations on our list this year. In addition to saving money on gas, you might save on a home, too. The median home price in Providence as of November 2021 stood below the national average, at $345,000, according to Redfin. In the high-priced Northeast (the median home price in Boston is more than double what it is here), Providence is a gem. This small-state city is poised to become an even bigger draw if plans for a new downtown riverwalk become reality.

8. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Don't let frigid temperatures scare you off: Minneapolis in the summer can more than make up for your willingness to brave the cold. The city ranks third on The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore list, which identifies the top U.S. destinations for convenient access to green space. The No. 2 city on the list? St. Paul, which also puts you in proximity to the more than 1,000 healthcare companies in the region. No matter where you wind up living in the Twin Cities, you might choose to explore the area without a car, as Minneapolis has the highest bike score of the cities on our list this year.

9. Cincinnati, Ohio

With a median home price of $220,000 (as of November 2021 Redfin reporting) and one of the top wellness rankings on our list, there's a lot to like about Cincinnati. There are also a lot of employers to choose from if you're thinking about a new job: P&G, Fifth Third Bank and Kroger are all headquartered here. With Xavier University, Miami University and the University of Cincinnati, the city also buzzes with a youthful academic energy. It isn't on one of the coasts, but it still boasts waterfront real estate along the Ohio River. Plus, with major MLB and NFL franchises in town, you'll have reasons to cheer all year long.

10. Jacksonville, Florida

Fidelity Investments, Aetna, Johnson & Johnson and Mayo Clinic are a few of the brands that make up the thriving business community in Jacksonville. That community is faring relatively well, too, as the city's unemployment is at a low 3.3 percent (as of November 2021). This is a city steeped in nature, with more than 80,000 acres of marshes, wetlands and woods. This is also one of the best cities on our list for your wallet, with a lower cost of living and a median home price of $275,000 as of November 2021, according to Redfin. In recent years, new housing developments have helped offer the influx of residents additional options, and there are big plans in the works for the city's future, including a $1.1 billion proposal to reshape the downtown riverfront.

11. Columbus, Ohio

If you look up in Columbus, chances are you'll see a construction crane or a brand-new building: The capital of Ohio has been on a tear in development to welcome everyone who's decided to relocate here. Those new arrivals are coming for more than Ohio State football (although that's a big part of life); they're finding job opportunities in computing, biomedical services, finance and e-commerce, as well as proximity to the Scioto Mile, a 175-acre, eight-park network connecting downtown Columbus to the Scioto River, and attracting bikers, kayakers and paddle boarders.

12. Kansas City, Missouri

Living in Kansas City means saving with some very affordable housing costs. In fact, rent on a one-bedroom here actually declined by 4 percent in the last year, according to rental site Zumper. That doesn't mean sacrificing the perks of a big city, however. The Royals and the Chiefs each hoisted championship trophies in recent years, and Kansas City's jazz circuit - with more than 40 nightclubs - offers opportunities to enjoy the soul of the city. If you aren't working from home, you're in luck: KC is home to many leading companies, including Garmin, H&R Block and Hallmark, and the city's unemployment rate is under 3 percent (as of November 2021).

13. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Affordable housing, one of the best microbrewery scenes in America and a leader in medical device manufacturing - these are some of the reasons people keep planting roots in Grand Rapids. While the city's landlocked, it's just a 40-minute drive to the shores of Lake Michigan in the summer, and in the winter, Northern Michigan's Midwest-friendly skiing offers a convenient low-cost getaway. Local leaders in Grand Rapids are aiming to add more reasons to put the city closer to the top of this list, including ambitions to lure tech companies and proposals for a large downtown amphitheater on the Grand River.

14. Tucson, Arizona

If you want to increase your Vitamin D in 2022, Tucson is your answer. This is the sunniest city on our list - approximately 85 percent of days in the year include a healthy dose of desert sun. Whether you prefer the challenge of mountain biking through the Sonoran Desert or a more calming round of golf, the city has an endless number of reasons to stay healthy and outside. When you do actually go indoors, your housing costs are fairly low: The median price of a home here was just over $300,000 as of November 2021, Redfin reports. With that extra money, you might be able to enjoy a dining scene that distinguishes the city as one of two UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy on our list (read on to discover the other).

15. Indianapolis, Indiana

While Indianapolis is famous for the engines of the Indy 500, quite a few cars are coming to The Circle City, shifting to park and sticking around. Major companies like Eli Lilly, Roche Diagnostics and Salesforce all have major presences here, and buying a home can be much easier compared to most of the cities on our list: The median home price as of November 2021 was $212,000, according to Redfin. If the four-wheeled racing of Indy's fame isn't your thing, you have plenty of two-wheel options to enjoy the outdoors. The eight-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail winds through downtown, offering easy bike pit stops in neighborhoods like Fountain Square and Mass Ave. Sports enthusiasts will also love the city, which is home to the NCAA headquarters and regularly hosts major collegiate championship events.

16. Sacramento, California

While many moved away from high-priced San Francisco and San Jose throughout the pandemic, most didn't go all that far. Instead, they headed for the capital of The Golden State. You'll still pay more than the national average to buy a home in Sacramento, but this is one of the more reasonable places to enjoy California living. You might not be able to go to the beach, but you can still take advantage of the 250-plus days of sunshine here on the region's more than 32-mile network of bike trails. As you explore those new places, Sacramento can also help you meet a wide range of new faces: This is the most diverse city on our list.

17. Denver, Colorado

If you're in search of city living but also the ability to disconnect, Denver should be on your radar. The Mile High City has been welcoming new residents chasing that balance, and it comes with plenty of opportunities for work, too. The Denver metro area has seen massive momentum adding STEM jobs, beating out other big names like Seattle, Austin and San Francisco with its ability to attract new employees, according to one index. Be prepared for a hit to your bank account, though: Buying a place is tough here, and rental prices have soared throughout the pandemic.

18. Nashville, Tennessee

While Nashville has exported its famous local specialty, hot chicken, to restaurants around the U.S., many are deciding to go straight to the source to try the culinary delight. Of course, they're coming for more than a recipe: The city's music industry, coupled with employment opportunities in healthcare, education and insurance, make the city an ideal place to work and play (or just listen). If you're thinking about moving to Nashville, you might find yourself competing with others looking to relocate, however. Real estate agents in the area estimate that 82 people move to The Music City every day.

19. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio has big plans: The city is working on adding 140,000 jobs to the tune of $55 billion in economic impact by 2025. That kind of ambition often leads to some overly pricey real estate, but for now, The Alamo City can be a budget-friendly option in The Lone Star State. The median price of a home was $275,000 as of November 2021, per Redfin data. Employers like USAA and H-E-B call the city home, and other companies like Nissei, Pabst Brewing and Skipcart have recently unveiled plans for major operations here. If you're a foodie, San Antonio might speak in your flavor profile, as well. The city is one of two U.S. cities that earned the honor of "Creative City of Gastronomy" from UNESCO (the other is Tucson, also on our list this year). Pack your boxes, and bring your appetite.

20. Atlanta, Georgia

Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot and The Coca-Cola Company are a few of the reasons why Atlanta is such a desirable place to call home. In addition to serving as the corporate headquarters for those three well-established companies, Atlanta is earning a reputation as a top destination for emerging tech companies. If you aren't up for an in-office routine, Atlanta is making a name as a top spot for those who can work remotely. The city's bright future is encapsulated by the Atlanta Beltline, a massive urban development plan to repurpose abandoned railroad tracks with 33 miles of multi-use urban trails, 22 miles of urban transit, 450 public art installations and $10 billion in economic development. The project is also aiming to bring 5,600 affordable housing units to Atlanta. Simply put, the Atlanta of today looks good, but the Atlanta of tomorrow looks even better.

21. Ogden, Utah

Ogden is one of the smallest cities on our list in terms of population, but it packs one of the biggest selling points: an unemployment rate of just 1.3 percent (as of November 2021). Some come to work in defense - there's an air force base - and the medical device and pharmaceutical industries also have a solid footprint here. However, you might be best suited for life in Ogden if you have the flexibility of working from home and the ability to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors: The city's main attraction is mountain sports, with more than 11,000 acres for skiing within a short drive of downtown.

22. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Denver makes plenty of well-deserved headlines as a premier place to live, but Colorado Springs is giving the capital a run for the money - literally. The median price of a home in Colorado Springs as of January 2022 was around $425,000, versus a $535,000 price tag in Denver, according to Redfin. The Springs also offers equally convenient access to what everyone loves about Colorado: what's outside your home. From hiking and biking trails in Garden of the Gods Park to the notorious white-knuckle drive up Pikes Peak, the city is a gateway to natural beauty. While the unemployment rate in Colorado Springs is higher compared to many other cities on our list, it has managed to regain all of the jobs lost during the pandemic, according to the state's Labor Department.

23. Portland, Oregon

Portland is the biggest city in Oregon, so living here might mean somewhere in the larger metro area, which includes standouts like Hillsboro (home to a huge Intel campus) and Beaverton (the corporate headquarters of Nike). No matter which enclave you call home in the area, there are employment opportunities at several other big-name firms, including Boeing, Columbia and The Standard. Sure, it rains in the Pacific Northwest, but all that water translates to a whole lot of green space. Portland earned a spot in the top 10 on The Trust for Public Land's ParkScore rankings thanks to 80 miles of trails in Forest Park. When you're not outdoors, you'll find an array of dining options that satisfy every palate, plus a creative scene filled with art walks and concerts.

24. Houston, Texas

Houston 's immediate future looks bright: The city is on track to add around 75,000 jobs in 2022, according to local estimates, and more than 1.2 million new residents over the next decade, commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield found. The city's Museum District includes 19 institutions that honor everything from Czech culture to craft-making. While Houston established itself in fossil fuels with companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron and other big oil names, it's making strides toward addressing climate change, earning an A ranking from environmental nonprofit CDP for the steps it's taking to mitigate the climate crisis.

25. Seattle, Washington

With a median home price tag of $765,000 (as of December 2021), Seattle is the opposite of affordable. Here's the thing, though: If you can manage to make enough money to live here, it can be worth it. Amazon, Microsoft and Starbucks all maintain their corporate headquarters in The Emerald City, and when employees aren't in the office, they're enjoying the outdoors. From exploring more than 480 parks within city limits to hopping in the car to head to the Cascade Mountains for a more rigorous hike, the Seattle metro has no shortage of ways to soak in the scenery. If you're looking to savor something more relaxing, the local winery and brewery scenes have you covered, too.

Learn more:

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America's Best Places To Live 2022 | Bankrate

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While there has been some movement to the suburbs in the pandemic, major cities remain attractive places to live and work. If you're reevaluating where you call home or considering relocating this year, here are Bankrate's picks for the best places to live in 2022.

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"In 1905 Eber W. Cobleigh donated $15,000 to erect a public library building in Lyndonville. The site of the Silsbury Livery Stable at Main and Depot Street was authorized for purchase at the annual town meeting in March and the library building was completed in late 1906. Plans for the building were drawn by William J Sayward, a member of the well known firm that had designed the Boston Public Library. The library was dedicated and opened to the public in January, 1907."

History of the Cobleigh Library courtesy of the Cobleigh Library

Burklyn Hall

"Construction of Burklyn Hall began in 1904, while Mr. Darling was operating the Fifth Avenue Hotel, on Fifth Avenue and 23rd street in New York City. When his hotel, with an astonishing thousand rooms, was first built just before the Civil War it was deemed too far uptown to be practical. But the city was growing faster than anyone could have imagined and the hotel prospered, largely as a result of Mr. Darling's lavish and tasteful hand. Yet by the turn of the century, the hotel was already too far downtown, and so Mr. Darling began to plan his retirement home amidst the land and people he so loved.

He had acquired Mountain View Farm in 1883, and steadily added to its land and buildings since then. He had long ago chosen the site for Burklyn Hall, so named because the knoll with commanding views was right on the Lyndon/Burke town line. He had studied architecture at MIT himself, and chose the neo Georgian style, an homage to the English tradition of a century before, embellished with pilasters, columned piazzas, Palladian windows and a balustraded roof.

He hired a New York firm to complete the design, while the actual construction was hired out locally. An exception was to be the plumbing. Mr. Darling wanted the very best, and had a New York firm furnish those and other fixtures.

Limestone for the foundation was quarried near the site, and the massive granite blocks for the foundation above grade came from Kirby. Over three hundred thousand board feet of lumber went into the construction, nearly all of it was cut on the property and milled nearby. Some of the finish work was done by artisans hired from elsewhere, such as Italian plasterers. Special amenities included a central vacuum system, an elevator, refrigeration, and an Old English Pub in the basement. It was, in the words of Elizabeth Brouha, "a restrained and elegant expression of the romantic dream of feudal paternalism in the Age of Opulence." The architects estimated the total cost was $80,550.

Mr. Darling chose his special shade of yellow for the exterior, as he did with most of the other outbuildings of the estate. Sixty-nine pilasters, eight entrances, and a piazza on three sides accent the exterior, a conservatory and a magnificent greenhouse were added in 1910. When the building was completed in 1908, Mr. Darling quit the hotel business and moved in. Although he never married, he did not live there alone. His unmarried sister, Miss Louise Darling, lived there as well and presided over the many social functions. It is easy to imagine the gaiety of these occasions as one enters the central hall, which is modeled after the Longfellow House in Cambridge. Other main rooms are to the left and right, each of the nine fireplaces has its own distinctive mantle and type of marble, the main hallway fireplace is accented by the Darling coat of arms, "Deo Donum," God's gift, and so it surely seemed.

The only imported wood is the beautiful rich mahogany paneling of the dining room. Particularly notable is the native birch paneling in the breakfast room. This is where Mr. Darling and Miss Louise took their morning repast, one sitting in Burke, the other in Lyndon. On the second floor there were four special guest chambers; Egypt, Franconia, Brighton and Willoughby, named for the views the room afforded, and each with its own decorative motif and matching sterling silver service. There were a total of ten bedrooms on the second floor, and twelve on the third!

It was, perhaps, because Mr. Darling had no wife and children of his own that the nearby residents became, in a sense, his family. A great annual occasion was his Christmas party for local children. Hundreds were brought to the party by sleigh, and each got a gift from Santa Clause. There were more parties for the adults throughout the holiday season, but such grandeur and celebration could not last forever. Miss Louise Darling died in 1925, and Elmer Darling followed her in 1931. After their brother Lucien died in 1937, the estate changed hands several times. It was owned by the state for a while, and endured some institutional years as a college dormitory. We are delighted to see Burklyn Hall's former elegance restored by the present owners."

History of Burklyn Hall is courtesy of the Fairbanks Museum

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Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce | Lyndon, Vermont

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The Lyndon Area Chamber of Commerce is located in the heart of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. We serve the communities of Lyndon, Burke, St. Johnsbury, Danville, Sutton, Sheffield, Waterford, Concord and more. We provide information on vacationing, business and residential relocation, and activities.

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Host: This week in our Farm Family series, we've been hearing that many older farmers in northeastern Vermont want their children to have what they had-not just the land that's been in the family for a century or more, but the way of life that comes with it.

How are the traditions and values passed along by the last generation ? Does it mean finding extra income? Finding a new purpose for the real estate?

Today, VPR's Charlotte Albright talks with farm family number five-a close knit clan trying to find new ways of making their living off the land-as we continue our stories about some of the oldest farms in Caledonia County.

"Can I get a coffee shake?"
"Anything else?"
"Nope."
"$3.75 please."

(Albright) Even on a chilly fall afternoon in Lyndonville, the ice cream window at the Freighthouse Restaurant is open for business.

Sound of conversation inside restaurant

(Albright) Indoors, at dinner hour, all the booths, salvaged from old railway dining cars, are full.

(Bonnie Paris) "Hi, my name's Bonnie and I'll be your server today. I'll just tell you our special. It's a sirloin steak dinner, it's our own certified organic grass fed beef, it comes with potatoes, vegetable, which is organic yellow wax beans, and a roll."

(Albright) When Bonnie Paris says "our own," organic grass fed beef, she really means it. Her parents own this restaurant as well as the farm where the beef, potatoes, and beans come from. Her brother works there full time, and her grandparents across the road still help with the chores. Bonnie is a recent Lyndon State graduate, but she says she can't tear herself away from either the family farm or the restaurant, so she juggles them with her part-time graphic arts job.

(Bonnie Paris) "I like to help my family and I feel that our business is also helping to educate people about why they should support local farms and why they should support organic producers."

(Albright) Bonnie takes after her high-energy mother. Cathy Paris wakes up each day around five am, muscles through her farm chores, and heads to the restaurant with fresh milk and veggies to open up and handle the books. By late afternoon she's back on the farm to feed the chickens and turkeys and maybe help with the milking and weeding. Then back to the restaurant to supervise dinner, and close up. By the time she gets home to check on the cows one last time, she's tired-but, she insists, happy, because she loves the way they depend on her.

(Cathy Paris) "I have many eyes looking at me that need care, and they're silent. They're silent friends, and they need me. So it feels balanced because they need us. It's home, it is, it's coming home, and our home is a lot of welcomed friends. "

(Albright) The multi-tasking Paris family may seem like the wave of the future, but Cathy's husband, 45-year old Eric, says his barn boots are also firmly planted in the past.

Every important thing he knows about farming he learned either from his dad, or from other older farmers who lived near-by.

( Sounds of cows mooing as they come into the barn)

(Eric Paris) "Actually, organic farming is new but it's not. Back in the late eighteen-hundreds, nineteen hundreds, everyone farmed organically. Only they didn't think of it as such then."

(Albright) Around six on a rainy evening, cows straggle into the barn to munch on hay and get hooked up to an octopus -like milking system that drains their udders directly into big tanks. Eric's mother, now in her eighties, helps. Her son says he learned from his parents how to work hard-but also how to make the most of every spare minute.

(Eric Paris) "My earliest memories of growing up on this farm are fond, fond memories. It's my mom taking my three older sisters and I into the cow pasture for a picnic lunch, you know, we weren't more than 200 feet form the house but you know we'd go over into the cow pasture and have a picnic lunch while my dad was out tending the farm, whether he was raking hay or cutting firewood or whatever. And then taking my bicycle and driving down across the fields the hills, over the hills and the hummocks and everything.

Cow riding, my sisters and I would always find an old cow, she was probably so lame she couldn't move fast anyway but we'd heist each other up on her back and you know we'd go after the cows and ride one home and we'd get close to the barn and we'd get home and yell for our parents to come out and look at us. And I just have wonderful, wonderful memories of growing up on the farm as my sisters do, so I in turn built the house here on the farm and I raised my two children here."

(Albright) And Paris is convinced his kids can hold onto their heritage-not despite the steady trickle of newcomers and tourists into Vermont's rustic Northeast Kingdom, but because of them.

(Eric Paris) "In my eyes it's a matter of looking at whether the glass is half full or half empty. Well, as more people come into an area it doesn't mean that the farms have to disappear. I think it's opportunity to diversify your farm and raise more and you have more of a market with more people in an area."

(Albright) Steve Taylor, former commissioner of agriculture for New Hampshire, agrees that in-migrants can pump new cash into a local economy, and some can even buy up farms that would otherwise go under. But Taylor also sees a trend that can sap a community of its identity.

(Taylor) "I'm troubled about what's happening in a lot of rural Vermont, however, with what I call a hollowing out of communities by, let's call it, NewYork money where people come and say "aah, we want to have a Vermont farm", and that means to them a place to go and spend a week or two a year. They have the means to afford and fix the place up so it looks lovely and hire a local person to maintain the lawn and plow the snow for it in the winter but those people are total non-residents. I mean, they are non participants in community life and that accounts I think in many of these smaller communities in southern and central Vermont for sharply declining school populations and it's sort of a repeat of what happened in Vermont after the Civil War. "

(Albright) Taylor thinks, though, that the Northeast Kingdom is far enough off the beaten path to slow down that trend-but only if its farmers can survive it.

(Host): Tomorrow we'll meet a farmer who came to the Northeast Kingdom from suburban Connecticut and hear about the impact of in-migration. You can find our entire Farm Family series, a behind-the-scenes slideshow, and a place to share your own story ... online at vpr.net.

Top Photo: Bonnie Paris at the Freighthouse Restaurant in Lyndonville, VT.

Middle Photo: Eric Paris in the barn at Tamarlane Farm in Lyndonville, VT.

Photo Copyright Herb Swanson ©2008

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Farm Families: Part Three, The Life That Comes With the Land

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Host: This week in our Farm Family series, we've been hearing that many older farmers in northeastern Vermont want their children to have what they had-not just the land that's been in the family for a century or more, but the way of life that comes with it.

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Article of Railroads in Lyndonville by Beth Kanell

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Article of Railroads in Lyndonville by Beth Kanell

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The arrival of railroads in the Northeast Kingdom was critical for the economy in 1850. Trains carried people and goods great distances. They brought farm products to market and shoppers, jobs, and wealth to towns like St. Johnsbury, Danville, and Lyndonville.

Of these three towns, the most dramatically affected was Lyndonville, where the entire "Ville" was born as a planned railroad company village, with housing for workers, workshops ("shops") for train repair and maintenance, and all the frills of modern 1860s life, from water supply to the post office, and from parks to merchants - actually drawing the heart of the town away from the settlement of Lyndon Corner, to the new economic heart of town.

Massive brick buildings lined the tracks, including the "car shop" where railroad cars and even engines could be driven inside for repairs; an imposing three-story brick station greeted passengers, and lines of horse-drawn wagons and, later, automobiles waited at the platform and along the roads. By 1900, some 300 jobs depended on the railroad in Lyndonville. Yet a century later, almost all those jobs - and the buildings involved - vanished.

Early explorers and settlers had no idea the changes that would follow them. The first English-speaking settlers reached northern New England by water, traveling up the Connecticut, Merrimack, and Hudson Rivers. "Canal fever" struck with the creation of the Erie Canal (1807-1825). Closer to us, as described by Connecticut River historian David Deen, investors planned a series of canals to make the Connecticut River more navigable, dodging various falls and rapids. Some were quickly built. In 1825, engineers were sent by the War Department to Barnet, to make a survey for a canal that could lead all the way to Lake Memphremagog; this one was never built.

Traveling on waterways would soon be supplanted. Railroads had begun to improve transportation in England, and in 1828, construction began in America for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1850, the first locomotive arrived in St. Johnsbury. The 22 years in between made up a period of rapid rail expansion.

Farmer and historian

Frederick Palmer Wells was born in Newbury in 1850. His 1923 book, "History of Barnet, Vermont, From the Outbreak of the French and Indian War to Present Time," includes information that never made it into other works of St. Johnsbury history, probably because as a local farmer, he saw things differently. For example, only Wells - not even the local newspapers - paid attention to the deaths of Irish workers as the railroad was being built.

The men building and working for the railroad in the early years were "mainly Irish," said Wells, and shanty villages grew up along the lines for the men and their families. They were considered dangerous, in accord with a stereotype at the time labeling the Irish "pugnacious." This may be why there was little public notice of the deaths that took place during construction. According to Wells, two men were "killed by a landslide in the cut above McIndoes, [and] one man in the ledges below East Barnet by a premature explosion in which several were injured."

Wells described the 1835 charter for a railroad up the Connecticut and Passumpsic River valleys as "one of the earliest railroad projects in the United States." The project needed a "convention" of St. Johnsbury entrepreneurs to get rolling. On Jan. 20, 1836, delegates arriving for this meeting in Windsor included Erastus Fairbanks, Huxham Paddock, Major Abel Butler, Luther Jewett, and Ephraim Paddock. These men were all significant in shaping towns and enterprises. It took a decade for the project to settle into state-approved form, complete with a charter and the right to divide the rail line at White River: north of the river mouth, it would be called the Connecticut and Passumpsic Rivers Railroad. On Jan. 15, 1846, it officially existed - with Erastus Fairbanks, president.

A born leader

Erastus was the eldest of the three Fairbanks brothers who, along with his brother Thaddeus, founded the Sleepers River-powered manufacturing firm E.&T. Fairbanks and Co. in 1834. The company's best known products were scales that Thaddeus invented. Their nephew, Edward T. Fairbanks, called Erastus a "born leader" and he effectively steered the new railroad into construction. Each segment required fresh investment, which he attracted to the project. The rail bed from White River to Wells River grew steadily and opened for traffic Nov. 6, 1849. It reached McIndoe Falls (a village of Barnet that was far more significant in those days) on Oct. 7, 1850. The first passenger car train from Boston arrived in St. Johnsbury on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 28, 1850.

Then investments slowed. It had already cost $29,000 per mile to bring the route to St. Johnsbury, and loans made up a narrow difference on top of what stock and bonds could provide. The cost of construction and equipment was over $1.7 million as of February 1852.

In 1852, Erastus Fairbanks took his first of two turns as governor. Two years later, the American Railroad Journal announced that "because of public apathy for buying bonds, the extension to Derby at the Canada border is delayed." Financiers holding bonds for the enterprise took over in a flurry in 1856, with a set of disagreements that lasted for a year before the owners could take charge again. A business panic in 1857 meant that by 1858 the route north had only reached Barton - and would not connect to Stanstead, Canada, until 1860.

Two daily passenger trains traveled the rails from White River to Barton from 1850 to 1854, but then changing economics meant only the mail train, one per day, made the trip from 1854 to the end of the Civil War in 1865. Passenger service re-started during the summer months but didn't become permanent until 1871.

Wells explained that the trains used wood for fuel until about 1882. The rail company bought tracts of woodlands along the route, to be able to cut fuelwood in handy locations. "Immense woodsheds were erected at stations and gangs of men went from one station to another sawing and piling up the wood," Wells reported. "Not infrequently these sheds took fire and were consumed. The sheds at Barnet station were burned out twice at least." The fuel eventually switched to coal.

Lyndonville

Perhaps the most surprising part of the railroad's arrival in the Northeast Kingdom, though, was when it created a village with a new name - Lyndonville - because of a destructive fire in St. Johnsbury.

The St. Johnsbury fire began March 21, 1866, in or near the tin shop of the Connecticut & Passumpsic Railroad company. Spurred by a sharp wind, the fire spread quickly, and within 15 minutes from the first alarm, it lit the machine shop, blacksmith and wood shop, and engine house. Those first on the scene raced to save the most valuable items: three locomotives that weren't in the shops. Two others, though, the "Addison Gilmore" and the "Caledonia," were caught in the flames (although possibly salvageable afterward, according to Mr. Alden, the master mechanic). With three structures and, most importantly, tools and machinery destroyed, the loss came to as much as $100,000, a small fortune. The Caledonian-Record of March 23, 1866, called the St. Johnsbury fire "the most disastrous fire that ever occurred in this place."

Although the loss was insured, the railroad company opted to move to a larger location for its "new shops." It purchased 300 acres of land in Lyndon Center, part of the town of Lyndon, and in the process, created streets, house lots, and parks, making sure its employees would have a desirable place to live. This may have been the first time in Vermont a village was "planned," one where a survey preceded all construction. According to Venila Shores in her history of the town, The Gem on the Green, this "New Village" went for some two years without an official name. Just as the choice seemed to be settled - Keyes Ville, named for the railroad company president Henry Keyes - the post office stepped into the gap: It appointed George B. Walker, the hotel proprietor, as the new postmaster of "Lyndonville." And that was that!

Ample house lots, abundant tree plantings, and the comforts of town life brought occupants swiftly to the new location. And the disastrous St. Johnsbury fire surely influenced the planning of a water reservoir created by the railroad employees, designed to hold up to 300,000 gallons of water for both the community and fire protection of the shops. This reservoir, no longer in use, was built "on a hill about 200 feet above and east of the [railroad] shops," wrote Lyndon historian Venila Shores. Later, the Lyndonville Water Company built another reservoir, but the flood of 1927 damaged both.

Although it would take about 30 years more, and one more major fire (1894, on Depot Street), the business and shopping life of the town gradually shifted from Lyndon Corner to Lyndonville, and the station and the railroad's complex of shops prospered as both a passenger and freight location.

Today the station and most of the buildings that housed the shops are gone; although a fire in the "car shop" did major damage in 1908, most of the buildings came down gradually when other uses took priority. Today only the "Freighthouse" restaurant and the massive brick structure housing the Kingdom's prime recycling center still stand, although a daily freight train still runs the Connecticut River Line through town.

Danville

Although the disastrous fire of 1866 forced the relocation of the railroad's maintenance and repair shops to Lyndonville, St. Johnsbury became the connection point for a new east-west rail line was built to Danville and beyond.

Construction of the new line was important to Danville because it had lost its "shire town" status as Caledonia County's seat and regional business hub to St. Johnsbury in 1856. Because of Danville's high elevation, determining the best and most economical way to reach it by rail was difficult.

Wells, the farmer-turned-historian, noted details of the proposed Danville rail routes.

Like the Passumpsic and Connecticut Rivers version, the Danville route expected to follow a (much smaller) river route. There were two possibilities. The "Endrick Brook route" (along what's now called the Water Andric) would travel "6 miles and 100 rods," wrote Wells, with a sharp drop of 723 feet over the four miles closest to Danville. The second was along Joe's Brook, and Wells said it was called the "Fall River route" (he had no idea why); it would have been 5.5 miles long with a less sharp drop of elevation and would have connected to several good mill sites, so the surveying engineer at the time recommended this second route.

These choices were both abandoned in favor of a route that closely followed what is now Route 2.

Between finances and the war, however, the railroad to Danville would wait another 20 years, until the construction of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway, intended to connect Maine's port of Portland to the Great Lakes shipping lanes. Danville opened its railroad station (the current recycling center building on Peacham Road) in 1871.

The happy announcement was made in the Burlington Weekly Free Press on Nov. 10, 1871, that train service had reached Danville and beyond: "The Lamoille Valley railroad directors expect to run an engine to South Hardwick on the 20th inst., and will soon have the cars running to that point, which is about 26 miles from St. Johnsbury. Silas H. Stone of Danville has received the appointment of station agent for Danville Green depot. He will also act as a telegraph operator. The telegraph office at Danville is open for business."

But the P&O never made it to the Great Lakes - its 1877 bankruptcy took place when it had only reached Swanton. So its Vermont division, in the bankruptcy proceedings, got reorganized as the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain Railroad Company in 1880, and later would become part of the Boston & Maine Railroad network.

A changing economy

The changes that followed in these railroad-dependent towns were rooted in the economy of the trains, which proved better for freight than for passengers, especially as the automobile penetrated the local culture.

Stopping at a railroad crossing today to watch the freight cars pass can't compare to the years when trains brought three presidents to St. Johnsbury (Benjamin Harrison in 1891, William Taft in 1912, and Theodore Roosevelt after his term was over), or your cousins, or took local families from Barnet to St. Johnsbury for a day of shopping. It's hard to picture the old-time passenger cars, too, which Frederick Wells describes as flat-roofed like a freight car, painted bright yellow, and topped by stovepipes. "They were heated by stoves at each end of the car and lighted by [whale oil] candles or by two or three oil lamps which gave light enough to find one's way about. A great deal of brass and ornamental work was expended on the engines and it was the pride of the engine crew to keep the engine in fine condition. The cars rode as easily as those do now, but the stoves were a constant menace and certain to set the cars on fire in case of accidents."

But despite their risks and discomfort, the trains were essential to the economic prosperity of New England, and even The Farmer's Almanac of 1846 felt it essential to announce the charters in place for the transportation of goods and passengers in the years ahead, especially along the Connecticut River, north into Vermont. The company names on its chart may have been a little "off," but they spoke for prosperity and its direction, with the railroads, into the Northeast Kingdom.

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rail transportation in the united states

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Railroad construction in the Northeast Kingdom through the eyes of a unique historian

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The arrival of railroads in the Northeast Kingdom was critical for the economy in 1850. Trains carried people and goods great distances. They brought farm products to market and shoppers, jobs, and wealth to towns like St. Johnsbury, Danville, and Lyndonville.

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What we learned? Revamp report