Greenwood, Mississippi

DISQUALIFIED.      

Greenwood is a dichotomy. Despite the less-than-desirable condition of many of the buildings in its downtown, there are a surprising number of very expensive, upscale retail stores in this town, including a five-star hotel/spa. But the most striking contradiction of this town is that the downtown commercial district is surrounded by poverty. This is historically analogous to an antebellum plantation mansion circled with shanties occupied by slaves. Another oddity is that although there are many substantial efforts underway to revitalize the downtown, its core buildings lack distinctive architecture. This is one of the strangest small towns we have seen.