Athens is an immensely successful (population just over 100,000) university town in the hills of northeastern Georgia. It is extremely popular as a retirement community. The University of Georgia has helped to create an unusually liberal community with a thriving artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual scene. The University of Georgia with its 38,000 students has a large and beneficial impact…...

Grass Valley is a small town of about 12,000 near Nevada City, Auburn, and about 50 miles from Sacramento in California.  The town was an important part of the original California Gold Rush. It is in the foothills of the Sierra. Photo of The Josiah Royce public library, (as Grass Valley was the the birthplace and early home of philosopher…...

Florence is a town of about 21,000 people located southeast of Phoenix. It is one of the oldest towns in Arizona. The Arizona State Prison is nearby and a major employer. The downtown is a historic district. In WWII the town was a POW camp. Photo of Second Pinal County Courthouse in Florence courtesy of Wikipedia and Shereth, photo of…...

Auburn-Opelika is a metropolitan area in Alabama which comprises Auburn and Opelika as well as several other incorporated and unincorporated communities. The latter has about 26,000 residents while Auburn has 56,000. This is a college town - Auburn University is located in Auburn with its 27,000 students. This pleasant city of  Auburn has a population over 53,000 with many cultural,…...