20 Signs You Grew Up in a Small Town

By numerical definition, a small town is a community with less than 50,000 people. However, there are other characteristics that come to my mind when I picture one. Closeness to nature, generations of families living near each other, a slow-paced vibe, and hard-working people.

From the City to the Country

Small towns have actually seen a boost in populations post-pandemic. Folks who can now work remotely have their pick of where they'd like to live. Escaping the hustle of big metropolitan areas for a more peaceful life.

Lucky Enough to Live in a Small Town

While they are welcome, of course, they will never understand what it was like to have grown up there. Being born and raised in a small town is a right of passage only some are lucky enough to experience. If you were, you may relate to this list so much it hurts.

CANVA

1. Running Errands

You know it's called "running errands" because you run into everyone you know! Or someone who knows your parents.

2.  Where's the Closest Landmark?

You tell people from other places where you are from in relation to another larger city close by. "Oh, I live about two hours from Louisville."

3. One Stop Shop

You bought groceries at the same place you rented videos, had your photos developed, cashed checks, and maybe even visited the tanning bed.

4. THE Stoplight

You refer to "the" stoplight because, yes, there was only one. And the only traffic jam was when the Christmas parade happened. Actually, you refer to everything with "the" in front like the Wal-Mart, the Kroger, the Piggly Wiggly, etc.

CANVA

5. You Know Where You'll Be Friday Night

Football season is SERIOUS business. The team dressed up at school on game day, the whole town shut down to attend playoff games, and friendships with people on the opposing side were re-evaluated (JK...kinda.)

CANVA

6. Sharing Life Updates

When you go back home to visit, everyone asks you the same questions over and over like they didn't already know the answers from talking to your mom. You might as well take out an ad in the newspaper to let everyone know at once.

7. Best White Noise For Sleep

You remember being woken up by the sounds of a passing train and then lulled back to sleep by crickets and frogs "singing" outside your window.

8. Locally Grown Diet

If you didn't grow your own food or hunt for it, you had a favorite farm stand or meat shop to purchase it from.

CANVA

9. Steel Magnolias Felt Like a Documentary

You are LOYAL to your hair stylist or barber. It's like Steel Magnolias come to life when visiting the salon for all of the juicy town gossip.

10. Saturday Night Bonfires

Your Saturday nights were spent either standing in a field around a bonfire or in a parking lot surrounded by souped-up cars or lifted trucks.

11. It Takes a Village

If you acted up in public without your parents, they knew about it by the time you got home.

12. Urban Legends

At least one ghost story or urban legend originated "just right up the road" from where you lived.

CANVA

13. 90s Country All the Way

You know all of the words to Reba's Fancy or Brooks & Dunn's " Neon Moon.

14. How's Your Mom & Em?

You still know people you went to Kindergarten with and are probably even still friends.

15. Community Support Like None Other

Your whole community rallied around someone having a hard time to help them. It may have even been you.

16. Guilty By Relation

You are forever associated with your siblings and the crazy stuff they did.

17. Annual Food Festival

Your town has some kind of annual festival dedicated to a particular kind of produce or food. There were carnival rides, cake walks, tractor pulls, and maybe even a beauty pageant.

CANVA

18. Mosquitoes & Drive-In Movies

You've sat in the back of a pick-up truck to watch a movie at the Drive-In. Bonus points if you also had a quilt to sit on or citronella candle

19. Streetlights On Means Time to Go Home

You spent most of your childhood outside. Your parents may not have even known where you were, but you knew exactly when to book it home.  Either the streetlights turning on or the sound of your mama hollering your name.

20. You are an expert Snipe hunter

*wink wink*

You may have also dreamed of "getting out" of your small town, and maybe you did, but I would bet money, you look back with fond memories. If anything, it made you who you are today and taught you valuable life lessons! What are some other ways you know you're from a small town? Chime in on Facebook or the App Chat and let us know!

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