Granite Falls is a very small town of about 4600 people in the west central foothills of North Carolina. Hickory is the largest nearby town, along with Lenoir. The elevation is about 1100' above sea level. The area is rural and hilly - popular with vacationers and retirees.  The climate is a bit milder than in the rest of North…...

Henderson, second largest city in Nevada, is also one of America's fastest-growing communities. In fact the population increased over 80% from 2000 to 2020 (317,610). There are several reasons why Henderson is an appealing retirement community. For one, the colorful desert landscapes and the snowcapped peaks of nearby mountain ranges provide a dramatic backdrop for this city near Lake Mead.…...

Marietta is a suburb northwest of Atlanta with a population of about 66,000. The town square is the site of several cultural productions and public events, including a weekly farmers' market. Photo of Cobb County Courthouse, Marietta, Georgia, taken September, 2006, and photo Taken from Glover Park in the town square, September 2006, courtesy of Wikipedia and HowardSF (public domain).…...

Carlsbad is located in Southeastern New Mexico, straddling the Pecos River on the edge of the Guadalupe Mountains. The town, which is the county seat of Eddy County, has a population of 26,138 (2013 census), and was named after the European spa Karlsbad, because of mineral springs located north of the city that were believed to have medicinal value. It…...