The planning of cities, towns, small towns and villages is based on population size. Cities are larger dwelling places than towns in terms of geography and demographics. The population of a city generally ranges from about 100,000 to 300,000. Cities can accumulate more land space and merge with other areas as they grow in population. Towns are smaller than cities, but are larger than villages. A normal town serves around 1000 to 20,000 people. A village, on the other hand, usually comprises about a few hundred to a few thousand people. Like most other US states, Texas also follows this general rule in the planning of its cities, towns, and villages. For example, Houston is the largest Texan city with a population of roughly 2.3 million people. It is also the fourth largest city in the US. The Woodlands would be considered a town in the Houston area with a population of roughly 94,000. Buffalo (not Buffalo, NY) could be considered a small town because it has a settlement of about 1,900 people according to a 2017 report. Houston conducts city halls where the people of the city meet with their representatives to discuss important political matters. Towns also conduct town hall meetings for similar purposes for a smaller constituency. The Woodlands and Buffalo would fall under the latter category.
Living anywhere has its pros and cons. Small towns are no different. Overlooking the cons, people who desire a slower pace of life, lifelong relationships with neighbors, community life, and a balanced work life intentionally move to small towns. The stress of a fast paced city life that prevents people from enjoying community and friendships is often absent in a small town life, even when working hard for a livelihood. Not having to deal with heavy traffic, small towns in many cases are safer, compared to big cities, especially for raising a family. People recognize each other and a stranger can be spotted easily. In small towns, it is easier to meet with local officials and people in high office, as opposed to cities where there are so many governmental barriers to pass through. Housing is generally more affordable in smaller towns, compared to large cities. In addition, job competition, unlike big cities, is generally lower, and therefore, a better chance of job security can be expected.
While offering a slower pace of life, small town life is not without challenges. Compared to cities, small towns have limited resources, and have difficulty competing for state and even federal funding. Young people are generally poorer in smaller towns because higher paying job opportunities are generally available in larger cities. However, the National League of Cities reports that people living in smaller areas are more likely to graduate from high school than those in urban areas.
Small towns are important because they share their own personal story. They represent our country's uniqueness while also contributing to our nation's history. For example, it was in the small town of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina that the Wright Brothers flew the first ever plane. The town of Appomattox, Virginia is where General Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant met to end the Civil War.
This lib guide, as mentioned earlier, provides samples of TSU’s resources on small towns/cities. They include books, journal articles, and various databases related to this subject. Please feel free to explore.
"New Census Data Show Differences Between Urban and Rural Populations"
"Number of cities, towns and villages (incorporated places) in the United States in 2015, by population size"
"Focus on Small Cities"
"Small Town Safety Nets: report on a pilot study"
"While Most Small Towns in the U.S. Struggle, Some Thrive"
"8 Rural and Small Town Trends for 2017"
Small-Town America by 
Community, Culture, and Economic Development by 
Gerontological Social Work in Small Towns and Rural Communities by 
Small Towns and Big Business by 
Revitalizing American Cities by 
Small, Gritty, and Green by 
After the Factory by 
The City in Texas by 
The Death and Life of Main Street by 
Small Cities USA by 
