Best of the Best

This section contains a detailed catalog of features of small towns that we consider exemplary. If you are a town administrator, this is your opportunity to investigate the competition or pursue ideas to beautify your municipality. Best of the Best categories are arranged in alphabetical order by small town feature (for example: alley beautification, benches, courthouses). Within each category, towns are listed in alphabetical order. No attempt is made to suggest which town has the best benches, the second-best benches, etc. Our intent it to display as much variety as possible within one category, so that town officials, Chamber of Commerce members, or planning commissions can evaluate possible improvements to their towns.

Features	Towns
A
Alley Beautification	Bardstown, KY \| Beaufort, SC \| Belmont, NC \| Charlevoix, MI \| Conyers, GA \| Georgetown, SC \| Grants Pass, OR \| Kingsburg, California \| McMinnville, TN \| Mount Airy, NC \| New Bern, NC \| Senoia, GA \| Warm Springs, GA
Amphitheater/Band Shell	Bardstown, KY \| Chautauqua, NY \| Helen, GA \| Lindsborg, KS \| Loveland, OH \| Orange City, IA \| Powell, OH \| St. Marys, GA \| Salida, CO \| Seward, NE
Arcade	Geneva-by-the-Lake, OH \| Manitou Springs, CO
Archway	Arrow Rock, MO \| Bandon, OR \| Corning, NY \| Golden, CO \| Lemoore, CA \| Mackinac Island, MI \| Manistee, MI \|Mount Dora, FL \| New Ulm, MN \| Ojai, CA\| Palm Springs, CA \| St. Marks, FL \| St. Marys, GA \| Salado, TX \| Tubac, AZ
B	Top of Page
Bandstand	See Amphitheater/Band Shell
Bank Building	Basalt, CO \| Columbus, WI \| Comfort, TX \| Grass Valley, CA \| Helen, GA \| Key West, FL \| Madison, GA \|Manitou Springs, CO \| Pella, IA \| Skaneateles, NY
Barber Shop	Mount Airy, NC \| Salida, CO
Bell	Abbeville, SC \| Leesville, LA \| Newberry, SC \| West Monroe, LA
Bench	Apalachicola, FL \| Arcadia, FL \| Arthur, IL \| Baker City, OR \| Bandon, OR \| Buena Vista, CO \| Clarkesville, GA \| Coulterville, CA \| Crested Butte, CO \|Dahlonega, GA \| Frisco, CO \| Georgetown, SC \| Golden, CO \| Healdsburg, CA \| High Springs, FL \| Idyllwild CA \| Jackson, WY \| Julian, CA \| Lake Placid, FL \| Lone Pine, CA \| Mendocino, CA \| Metamora, IN \| Minden, NV \| Mineola, TX \| Montrose, CO \| Morro Bay, CA \| Natchitoches, LA \| New Harmony, IN \| Park City, UT \| Rustin, LA \| Salado, TX \| Salida, CO \| Solvang, CA \| South Haven, MI \| Taos, NM \| Tubac, AZ \| Waynesville, NC \| Williams, AZ \| Winters, CA \| Wolfeboro, NH \| Yellow Springs, OH
Bicycle Display	See Ornamental Bicycle Display
Bicycle Cleaning Station	Vail CO
Bicycle Rack	Baker City, OR \| Mount Dora, FL
Bridge	See Covered Bridge, Draw Bridge, Iron Bridge, Swinging Bridge, Wooden Bridge
Buckboard	Glendale, KY
Bus Stop	Aspen, CO \| Basalt, CO \| Crested Butte, CO \| St. Augustine, FL
C	Top of Page
Caboose/Locomotive/Railroad Car Display	Conyers, GA \| DeFuniak Springs, FL \| Mineola, TX \| Olmsted Falls, OH \| Stillwater, MN \| Wickenburg, AZ \| Williams, AZ \| Yountville, CA
Canal	Metamora, IN \| New Hope, PA \| Pella, IA \| Pittsford, NY \| Winona Lake, IN
Carousel Ride	Put-in-Bay, OH
Car Wash – Best Architecture	Cambria, CA
Central Plaza	See Town Square
Chamber of Commerce Building	New Harmony, IN \| Orange City, IA \| Port St. Joe, FL \| Wickenburg, AZ
Chess Board	Mackinac Island, MI \| Morro Bay, CA \| Newnan, GA \| Solivita, FL
Church - Distinctive Architecture	Mackinac Island, MI \| Manti, UT \| Nauvoo, IL \| New Harmony, IN \| Oldenburg, IN \| Princeton, NJ \| Taos, NM \| Yachats, OR
Clock Stand	Greenup, IL \| Manti, UT \| St. Augustine, FL
Clock Tower	Auburndale, FL \| Barnesville, GA \| Chelsea, MI \| Corning, NY \| Covington, GA \| Hudson, OH \| Newberry, SC \| New Ulm, MN \| Oxford, OH \| Solvang, CA \| Whitefish, MT
Climbing Rock	Aspen, CO \| Carbondale, CO
Convenience Store – Best Architecture	Cambria, CA \| Ojai, CA
Courthouse	Bardstown, KY \| Chardon, OH \| Crown Point, IN \| Georgetown, KY \| Madison, GA \| Marfa, TX \| Newnan, GA \| Orange City, IA \| Sylva, NC
Covered Bridge	Cottage Grove, OR \| Frankenmuth, Michigan \| Germantown, OH \| Olmsted Falls, OH \| Sweet Home, OR \| Woodstock, VT
Covered Wagon	Fort Davis, TX \| Fredericksburg, TX \| Salado, TX
D	Top of Page
Diner	Clinton, OK \| Round Top, TX
Directional Sign	Madison, GA \| Natchitoches, LA \| New Harmony, IN
Dog Station	Georgetown, SC \| Madison, GA \| Palm Springs, CA \| Traverse City, MI
Downtown Plaza	See Town Square
Draw Bridge	Orange City, IA \| Pella, IA
Drinking Fountain	Buena Vista, CO \| Grants Pass, OR \| Hico, TX \| Zionsville, IN
Drive-In Restaurant	Braidwood, IL
Drug Store	Summerville, SC
Drug Store Soda Fountain	Brenham, TX \| Corinth, MS \| Etna, CA \| Julian, CA
E	Top of Page
Emporium	Columbia, CA \| Jamestown, CA
F	Top of Page
Farmers Market	Bolivar, TN \| Galax, VA
Fence	Fredericksburg, TX \| Galena, IL \| Gunnison, CO \| Julian, CA \| Madison, IN \| Medora, ND \| Morro Bay, CA \| Newnan, GA \| Oldenburg, IN \| Round Top, TX \| Salado, TX \| Tubac, AZ \| Wallingford, VT
Fire Hydrant	New Bern, NC \| Oldenburg, IN \| Walnut, IA
Fire Station	Brenham, TX \| Columbia, CA \| Germantown, OH \| Glenwood Springs, CO \| Hermann, MO \| New Harmony, IN \| Pella, IA \| Tombstone, AZ \| Virginia City, NV \| Windsor, VT
Fish Cleaning Station	Pentwater, MI
Five & Ten Store	Fredericksburg, TX \| Guerneville, CA \|
Fountain	Madison, IN \| Marshall, MI \| Newberry, SC \| Pella, IA \| Savannah, GA \| Wallingford, VT
G	Top of Page
Gas Station – vintage	Cowan, TN \| Dwight, IL \| Ellensburg, WA \| Fayetteville, TX \| Jefferson, TX \| Lebanon, OH \| Madison, IN \| Manitou Springs, CO \| McLean, TX \| Newberry, SC \| Odell, IL \| Savannah, GA \| Shamrock, TX
Gazebo/Pavilion/Shelter House	Aspen, CO \| Bardstown, KY \| Bay St. Louis, MS \| Black Hawk, CO \| Boerne, TX \| Bryan, OH \| Cadillac, MI \| Chagrin Falls, OH \| Chardon, OH \| Clinton, SC \| Corning, NY\| DeFuniak Springs, FL \| Dundee, MI \| Fairmount, GA \| Franklin, KY \| Fredericksburg, TX \| Frisco, CO \| Galena, IL \| Georgetown, CO \| Greensboro, GA \| Healdsburg, CA \| Helen, GA \| Idyllwild, CA \| Madison, GA \| Madison, IN \| Manitou Spring, CO \| New Harmony, IN \| Punta Gorda, FL \| Rockford, MI \| St. Augustine, FL \| St. Charles, MO \| St. Marys, GA \| Steamboat Springs, CO \| Stillwater, MN \| Sweet Home, OR \| Tombstone, AZ \| Winters, CA \| Woodstock, IL \| Xenia, OH
Grist Mill	Clifton, OH \| Clinton, NJ \| Independence, IA \| Metamora, IN
Gymnasium	New Harmony, IN
H	Top of Page
Hardware Store	Halstead, KS
Historical Marker	Madison, IN \| Natchitoches, LA \| Tarboro, NC
Hometown Celebrity Recognition	Abilene, KS \| Fort Payne, AL \| Winterset, IA
Hotel	Coeur d’ Alene, ID \| Glenwood Springs, CO \| Hogansville, GA \| Jekyll Island, GA \| Mackinac Island, MI \| Manchester, VT \| Redstone, CO \| Wharton, TX
I	Top of Page
Ice Cream Parlor	Brenham, TX \| Etna, CA \| Greenup, IL
Iron Bridge	Applegate, OR \| Bastrop, TX \| Bentonsport, IA \| Clinton, NJ \| Coloma, CA \| Fort Benton, MT \| Galena, IL \| Glenwood Springs, CO \| Guerneville, CA \| Lanesboro, MN \| Lindsborg, KS \| Llano, TX \| Madison, IN \| New Hope, PA \| Pittsford, NY \| Salado, TX \| Savannah, GA \| Winthrop, WA \| Woodstock, VT
J	Top of Page
Jail	Granbury, TX \| Kingsburg, CA \| Llano, TX \| Philipsburg, MT \|
K	Top of Page
Kiosk	Cadillac, MI \| Dahlonega, GA \| Decorah, IA \| Mackinac Island, MI \| Mount Dora, FL \| Pella, IA \| Red Wing, MN \| St. Charles, MO \| Wabasha, MN
L	Top of Page
Labyrinth	New Harmony, IN
Lamppost Music	Rockford, MI \| Woodstock, IL
Lamppost	Bandon, OR \| Barnesville, GA \| Central City, CO \| Georgetown, KY \| Hershey, PA \| Madison, GA \| Manistee, MI \| McMinnville, TN \| Red Wing, MO \| Skaneateles, NY \| Sterling, KS \| Sweet Home, OR \| Wallace, ID
Landscaping	Auburndale, FL \| Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA \| Charlevoix, MI \| Fairhope, AL
Library Architecture	Boerne, TX \| Fredericksburg, TX \| Grass Valley, CA \| Lewistown, MT \| Milton, DE \| Newberry, SC \| Princeton, NJ \| Wallace, ID \|
Lighthouse	Mount Dora, FL \| South Haven, MI
Livery Stable	Abbeville, SC \| Central City, CO \| Columbia, CA \| Madison, GA
Log Cabin	Coloma, CA \| Danville, KY \| Fredericksburg, TX \| Metamora, IN \| New Harmony, IN
M	Top of Page
Mail Box	Cambria, CA \| Jefferson, TX \| Lemoore, CA
Map Display	Grand Haven, MI \| Marshall, MI \| Pentwater, MI
Masonic Temple	Guthrie, OK \| Rogersville, TN
Motel	See Hotel
Movie Theatre	See Theatre
Murals – antique reproduction signage	McMinnville, TN \| Tombstone, AZ \| Walnut, IA \| Winthrop, WA
Murals – historic depiction	Anacortes, WA \| Barnesville, GA \| Cuba, MO \| Exeter, CA \| Greenville, IL \| Healdsburg, CA \| Kingsburg, CA \| Lake Placid, FL \| Vicksburg, MS
Museum Architecture	Corning, NY \| Decorah, IA \| Fredericksburg, TX \| New Ulm, MN
O	Top of Page
Opera House	Abbeville, SC \| Central City, CO \| Newberry, SC \| New Harmony, IN
Ornamental Bicycle Display	Clarkesville, GA \| Danville, KY \| Lebanon, IL \| Leipers Fork, TN \| Loveland, OH \| Madison, IN \| Mount Dora, FL \| Skaneateles, NY
Outhouse	Juliette, GA
P	Top of Page
Paddlewheeler	Stillwater, MO
Parking Meter	Lake Placid, NY
Pavilion	See Gazebo/Pavilion/Shelter House
Pedestrian-Friendly	Aspen, CO \| Boca Grande, FL \| Chautauqua, NY \| Columbia, CA \| Lakeside, OH \| Mackinac Island, MI \| New Harmony, IN \| Powell, OH \| Sandpoint, ID \| Seaside, FL \| Tombstone, AZ \| Vail, CO \| Winchester, VA
Pharmacy	See Drug Store
Phone Booth	Olmsted Falls, OH \| Orange City, IA \| Oxford, MS \| Solvang, CA
Playground	Auburndale, FL \| Cedar Key, FL \| Georgetown, CO \| Greenup, IL \| Lindsborg, KS \| Medora, ND \| Mount Dora, FL \| Port St. Joe, FL \| Powell, OH \| Punta Gorda, FL \| Salado, TX \| Vail, CO
Police Station	Chagrin Falls, OH \| Jackson, CA \| Pella, IA \| Versailles, KY
Post Office	Anaconda, MT \| Galena, IL \| Georgetown, CO \| Ludington, MI \| Ojai, CA \| Rocheport, MO \| Seaside, FL \| Spring, TX
Public Restroom	Dresden, OH \| Fairhope, AL \| Helen, GA \| Madison, IN \| Natchitoches, LA \| Pella, IA \| Placerville, CA \| Punta Gorda, FL \| St. Charles, MO \| Saugatuck, MI \| Solvang, CA \| Tubac, AZ
R	Top of Page
Railroad Museum	Adairsville, GA \| Jamestown, CA \| Strasburg, PA \|
Railroad Station	See Train Depot
Restroom	See Public Restroom
S	Top of Page
Schoolhouse	Arroyo Grande, CA \| Calico, CA \| Cambria, CA \| Etna, CA \| Spring City, UT \| Wickenburg, AZ \| Winthrop, WA
Sculpture	Angels Camp, CA (Mark Twain frogs) \| Cedar Key, FL \| Golden, CO \| Grants Pass, OR (bears) \| Hendersonville, NC (bears) \| Idyllwild, CA \| Lindsborg, KS (Dala Horses) \| New Bern, NC (bears) \| Red Wing, MN (Red Wing Shoes) \| Saratoga Springs, NY (race horses) \| Sedona, AZ \| Tubac, AZ \| Vail, CO (benches, other sculptures) \| Wilmington, VT (bears) \| Woodstock, IL (horses)
Service Station	See Gas Station (vintage)
Shelter House	See Gazebo/Pavilion/Shelter House
Shuttle Bus	See Trolley Transportation
Sidewalk	Auburndale, FL \| Bandon, OR \| Bastrop, TX \| Fairhope, AL \| Frankenmuth, MI \| Georgetown, KY \| Greensboro, GA \| Kalona, IA (quilt patterns)\| Manchester, VT \| McMinnville, TN \| Palm Springs, CA \| Punta Gorda, FL \| North Conway, NH \| Santa Ynez, CA (imbedded horseshoes) \| Senoia, GA \| Virginia City, NV \| Winthrop, WA
Spillway	Clinton, NJ \| Lanesboro, MN \| Rockford, MI
Stagecoach	Ellensburg, WA \| Manitou Springs, CO \| Santa Ynez, CA \| Tombstone, AZ \| Wickenburg, AZ
Stop Sign	Olmsted Falls, OH
Street Sign	Aspen, CO \| Dresden, OH \| Medora, ND \| Minden, NV \| Natchitoches, LA \| New Castle, DE \| Oldenburg, IN \| St. Marys, GA \| South Haven, MI \| Tubac, AZ
Swimming Pool	Glenwood Springs, CO
Swinging Bridge	Arroyo Grande, CA \| Halstead, Kansas
Swing	Helen, GA \| St. Marys, GA \| Southport, NC
T	Top of Page
Telephone Booth	See Phone Booth
Tennis Court	Auburndale, FL
Theatre	Estes Park, CO \| Eureka, CA \| Grass Valley, CA \| Key West, FL \| Maysville, KY \| Palm Springs, CA \| Sonoma, CA \| Tiffin, OH
Totem Pole	Crested Butte, CO
Town Hall	Chagrin Falls, OH \| Hogansville, GA \| Kingsburg, CA \| Sonoma, CA
Town Square	Dahlonega, GA \| Granbury, TX \| Sonoma, CA
Traffic Circle	Angelica, NY \| Vail, CO
Train (Display)	See Caboose/Locomotive
Train Depot	Berea, KY \| Dayton, WA \| Galena, IL \| Greenup, IL \| North Conway, NH \| Orange, VA \| Princeton, NJ \| Red Wing, MN \| St. Charles, MO \| Savannah, GA \| Vicksburg, MS \| Wallace, ID \| Wolfeboro, NH \| Xenia, OH
Train Yard	See Railroad Museum
Trash Receptacle	Anacortes, WA \| Bandon, OR \| Buena Vista, CO \| Fairhope, AL \| Holly Springs, MS \|Lake Placid, FL \| Jacksonville, OR \| Lynchburg, TN \| Morro Bay, CA \| Palm Springs, CA \| St. Charles, MO \| Silver City, NM
Trolley Transportation	Anaconda, MT \| Galena, IL \| Jacksonville, OR \| Jefferson, TX \| Ojai, CA \| St. Augustine, FL \| Wallace, ID
V	Top of Page
Veterans Memorial	Apalachicola, FL \| Bay St. Louis, MS \| Bedford, VA \| Newberry, SC \| Red Wing, MN
Visitor Center/Welcome Center	See Chamber of Commerce
W	Top of Page
Waterfall	Chagrin Falls, OH \| Redstone, CO
Water Tower	Atlanta, IL \| Kingsburg, CA \| Mendocino, CA \| Stanton, IA
Water Well / Wishing Well	Clarkesville, GA
Water Works	Washington, MO
Webcam	Leavenworth, WA
Welcome Center/Visitor Center	See Chamber of Commerce
Welcome Sign	Charlevoix, MI \| Clinton, SC \| Cripple Creek, CO \| Fairhope, AL \| Germantown, OH \| Manti, UT \| Perry, GA \| Walnut, IA
Windmill	Dwight, IL \| Elk Horn, IA \| Fulton, IL \| Orange City, IA \| Pella, IA \| Solvang, CA
Wooden Bridge	Galena, IL \| Georgetown, CO \| Metamora, IN \| Monteagle, TN

Best of the Best

Features

Towns

A

Alley Beautification

Bardstown, KY | Beaufort, SC | Belmont, NC | Charlevoix, MI | Conyers, GA | Georgetown, SC | Grants Pass, OR | Kingsburg, California | McMinnville, TN | Mount Airy, NC | New Bern, NC | Senoia, GA | Warm Springs, GA

Amphitheater/Band Shell

Bardstown, KY | Chautauqua, NY | Helen, GA | Lindsborg, KS | Loveland, OH | Orange City, IA | Powell, OH | St. Marys, GA | Salida, CO | Seward, NE

Arcade

Geneva-by-the-Lake, OH | Manitou Springs, CO

Archway

Arrow Rock, MO | Bandon, OR | Corning, NY | Golden, CO | Lemoore, CA | Mackinac Island, MI | Manistee, MI |Mount Dora, FL | New Ulm, MN | Ojai, CA| Palm Springs, CA | St. Marks, FL | St. Marys, GA | Salado, TX | Tubac, AZ

B

Bandstand

See Amphitheater/Band Shell

Bank Building

Basalt, CO | Columbus, WI | Comfort, TX | Grass Valley, CA | Helen, GA | Key West, FL | Madison, GA |Manitou Springs, CO | Pella, IA | Skaneateles, NY

Barber Shop

Mount Airy, NC | Salida, CO

Bell

Abbeville, SC | Leesville, LA | Newberry, SC | West Monroe, LA

Bench

Bicycle Display

See Ornamental Bicycle Display

Bicycle Cleaning Station

Vail CO

Bicycle Rack

Baker City, OR | Mount Dora, FL

Bridge

See Covered Bridge, Draw Bridge, Iron Bridge, Swinging Bridge, Wooden Bridge

Buckboard

Bus Stop

Aspen, CO | Basalt, CO | Crested Butte, CO | St. Augustine, FL

C

Caboose/Locomotive/Railroad Car Display

Conyers, GA | DeFuniak Springs, FL | Mineola, TX | Olmsted Falls, OH | Stillwater, MN | Wickenburg, AZ | Williams, AZ | Yountville, CA

Canal

Metamora, IN | New Hope, PA | Pella, IA | Pittsford, NY | Winona Lake, IN

Carousel Ride

Car Wash – Best Architecture

Central Plaza

See Town Square

Chamber of Commerce Building

New Harmony, IN | Orange City, IA | Port St. Joe, FL | Wickenburg, AZ

Chess Board

Mackinac Island, MI | Morro Bay, CA | Newnan, GA | Solivita, FL

Church - Distinctive Architecture

Mackinac Island, MI | Manti, UT | Nauvoo, IL | New Harmony, IN | Oldenburg, IN | Princeton, NJ | Taos, NM | Yachats, OR

Clock Stand

Greenup, IL | Manti, UT | St. Augustine, FL

Clock Tower

Auburndale, FL | Barnesville, GA | Chelsea, MI | Corning, NY | Covington, GA | Hudson, OH | Newberry, SC | New Ulm, MN | Oxford, OH | Solvang, CA | Whitefish, MT

Climbing Rock

Aspen, CO | Carbondale, CO

Convenience Store – Best Architecture

Cambria, CA | Ojai, CA

Courthouse

Bardstown, KY | Chardon, OH | Crown Point, IN | Georgetown, KY | Madison, GA | Marfa, TX | Newnan, GA | Orange City, IA | Sylva, NC

Covered Bridge

Cottage Grove, OR | Frankenmuth, Michigan | Germantown, OH | Olmsted Falls, OH | Sweet Home, OR | Woodstock, VT

Covered Wagon

Fort Davis, TX | Fredericksburg, TX | Salado, TX

D

Diner

Clinton, OK | Round Top, TX

Directional Sign

Madison, GA | Natchitoches, LA | New Harmony, IN

Dog Station

Georgetown, SC | Madison, GA | Palm Springs, CA | Traverse City, MI

Downtown Plaza

See Town Square

Draw Bridge

Orange City, IA | Pella, IA

Drinking Fountain

Buena Vista, CO | Grants Pass, OR | Hico, TX | Zionsville, IN

Drive-In Restaurant

Braidwood, IL

Drug Store

Summerville, SC

Drug Store Soda Fountain