When you grow up in a small town like I did, it's crazy to think that people didn't know everyone that they graduated with. My graduating class was 105. Almost everyone I graduated with lived in my school district their whole life. A lot of the teachers in my school district had our parents and older siblings. If you were the younger sibling, the teachers already knew about you.
My town only has one traffic light. But we have five banks, five churches and four gas stations, all of which are basically on the same main road. There's one grocery store. One elementary school, one high school, one middle school. If you want to go to the mall you need to drive forty minutes. If you want to go shopping you need to drive at least twenty minutes. If you want to go to the movies you can spend $5 on Main Street and get half dollars as your change.
Everyone knows everyone. If you're from the city (a lot of people come from New York City including kids at camp who come and stay at their "country home" for the summer) you stick out and everyone knows it. There are probably a solid ten to fifteen restaurants on Main Street.
I'm very happy that I grew up where I did. I have such a great sense of community every time something goes on there. There are, unfortunately, a few people recently who have been sick because of cancer. Everyone comes together to help these families because that's what a community is supposed to do. It's really great to see.
Even though my town is super small and everyone's like wow, you only had 100 kids in you class? I can't complain. It's my own Stars Hollow. (If you don't get the reference, this friendship is over.)
