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A national crowd-sourced study by Reader’s Digest has revealed the 50 finalists of its third annual search for “The Nicest Place in America”.
In an era of cultural and political divides, the research uncovers places where people are kind and treat each other with respect. Over a period of 31 days, Reader’s Digest gathered more than a thousand stories across the US. America will then vote on which of these places will get a cover story in the November issue of the magazine.
“The truth is that there’s goodness all around us”
Bruce Kelley, the editor-in-chief for Reader’s Digest, said: “This year we sifted through over 1,000 stories of places where people stick together because of kindness, and these are the best from each state. In doing so, we learned something amazing, which is that no matter what’s going on in the news or social media, the truth is that there’s goodness all around us.
“We hope these stories lift spirits and inspire all of us to be better neighbours, friends and family.”
Reader’s Digest’s 50 Nicest Places in America
This year’s search brought in a record number of submissions with a final tally of 1,077 stories, nearly three times that of 2018. The nicest places in America are:
- Alabama: Drexell & Honeybees Donations Only Restaurant in Brewton
- Alaska: North Pole
- Arizona: Kingman
- Arkansas: Texarkana
- California: Anaheim
- Colorado: Pueblo West Women’s League in Pueblo West
- Connecticut: Clintonville Elementary School in North Haven
- Delaware: Estates at Saint Anne’s in Middletown
- Florida: The Villages
- Georgia: The Fugees Academy in Clarkston
- Hawaii: Ahuimanu
- Idaho: Hidden Springs
- Illinois: Fox Point in Barrington
- Indiana: Lafayette Transitional Housing Center in Lafayette
- Iowa: Lansing Iowa Food Trust in Lansing
- Kansas: Cedar House in Abilene
- Kentucky: Winchester
- Louisiana: Houma
- Maine: Bristol
- Maryland: Whitehurst Community in Severna Park
- Massachusetts: Chiltonville Village in Plymouth
- Michigan: Armada
- Minnesota: Fertile
- Mississippi: Jourdan River Estates in Kiln
- Missouri: Columbia
- Montana: Ovando
- Nebraska: Sehnert’s Bakery in McCook
- Nevada: Dayton
- New Hampshire: Pembroke
- New Jersey: Hunterdon County YMCA in Flemington
- New Mexico: Las Cruces
- New York: Harding Park in The Bronx
- North Carolina: Sunset Hills in Greensboro
- North Dakota: Watford City
- Ohio: Columbiana
- Oklahoma: Country Aire Estates in Broken Arrow
- Oregon: Molalla High School in Molalla
- Pennsylvania: Delta Pizza in Delta
- Rhode Island: Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett
- South Carolina: Lake Trollingwood
- South Dakota: Rapid City
- Tennessee: Franklin
- Texas: Texarkana
- Utah: Springville
- Vermont: Barre City
- Virginia: Colonial Beach
- Washington: Kitsap Peninsula
- West Virginia: B.A.R.K. Club at Doddridge County High School in West Union
- Wisconsin: The Lingonberry Llama Coffee Shop in Belleville
- Wyoming: S. Chestnut St. in Casper
To determine the winning places, Reader’s Digest editors will consider the voting tally along with the input of a panel of judges that includes David Brooks, an op-ed columnist for the New York Times; Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America; and Sarah Friar, CEO of NextDoor.
