The New American Small Town: Lessons for Sustainable Urban Futures [Paperback]

2026 Winner of John Brinckerhoff Jackson Prize awarded by the Association of American Geographers (AAG)

What makes a sustainable city? When planners and politicians talk about making cities more sustainable, they often describe changes to large urban centers like New York City or Los Angeles. Yet when they suggest solutions for sustainable living, they talk about walkable neighborhoods, traditional architecture, and diverse land uses; they talk about small towns. Planners and developers are now working to introduce a small-town feel into our large cities and suburbs in hopes that it will provide a sense of community and reduce the use of automobiles.

So, what of small towns themselves? We dont talk about these places as much. They are often assumed to be utopias of the past or crumbling ghost towns of the present day rather than places with potential for sustainable living. This book critically examines narratives of American small towns, contrasting them with lived experiences in these places, and considers both the myth and reality in the context of current urban challenges. Interweaving stories from and about U.S. small towns, it offers lessons in sustainable urbanism that can be applied both in the towns themselves and to the larger cities and suburbs where most Americans now live.
 

A critical examination of American small-town narratives contrasted with lived experiences.Jennifer Mapes is assistant professor of geography at Kent State University. A community geographer, she researches with local stakeholders to help build more sustainable, just futures. Jen and her family live, work, and play in downtown Kent, Ohio.A critical examination of American small-town narratives contrasted with lived experiences in these locations, and a consideration of both the myth and reality in the context of current urban challenges and the quest for sustainable urbanism.
 "The book offers hope-filled portraits of small lS+