Kadlec, Daniel (2005) The land of the free TIME, 7/11, 43-46.

Little of parts of capitalism, little Ma & Pa’s can give way to big corporations. It happens because of economy of scale. Once a biggie gets going, it can cut costs and increase profits. The little ones either feed into the big ones or die off. Unfortunately, dying off is more common.

The great middle of America is dying. Small farms give way to big farms and little towns that fed off the little farms are dying too. The kids go to the suburbs. The town becomes unincorporated then the corporate farm takes over the town and the remaining buildings become home to livestock.

Many states are now enacting homestead laws so new folks will be attracted to free land in exchange for building homes and reproducing. About 20% of Kansas towns are going out of existence.

Is it working? The answer is mixed. THE TOWNS THAT MAKE IT ARE JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM A BIG CITY. OR, THEY ARE THE COUNTY SEAT OF A COUNTY THAT WILL NOT MERGE WITH ANOTHER COUNTY. THAT’S IT.

So a county seat or a bedroom community has the best chance to survive. Tourism spots also can help. If you are located just off a big interstate that can’t hurt.

What happens when towns go under?

1. The first to go is the school. It is the center of civic ceremonies, football games and related. The school becomes consolidated with other schools and whichever little town gets the new consolidated school thousands of dollars pour in.
2. Main street stores start closing.
3. Houses get boarded up.
4. Then goes the following: bank then pharmacy, grocery, gas station, lumberyard, hardware, post office, and then the silo.
5. The town becomes unincorporated and nothin’ but the dead are dying in one’s little town.
(This is the approximate way towns die. Each has a little different history.)

If you want some specific strategies that successful towns have used see kansasfreeland.com/