Small Town Stereotypes...Potentially Proven True

Small town America certainly does have stereotypes attached to it, such as neighbors walking across the street to give a cup of sugar, people not locking doors, slight hickville undertones, poor education, and more. I'm here to set the record straight, and prove that some of these are in fact....true. For example, It was recently brought to my attention that my parents and neighbors have a new system: my Mom decorated an egg carton to drop off at my neighbors house. When the neighbors eggs were ready from their chickens, they put a dozen in the glittered carton and walk it back over. When i heard the news, it wasn't a big surprise. Neighbors trade all time, pay it forward, and don't expect a reimbursement. So yes, small town neighbors do walk to each others houses to borrow a cup of sugar, or in my case, a carton of eggs. As far as hickville-ness goes, that's up for personal judgement. Yes, in Chester there is the occasional tractor driving by or alpaca sighting, but as far as toothless hillbillies in overalls they are far and few in between. We have tractor parades and Sunday farmer's markets, but we don't sit around with shot guns on our porches spitting sun flower seeds. We have a spare key under our front mat, but don't lock our doors. We shovel each others driveways, rake each others leaves, and get each others forgotten newspaper. We don't run around barefoot with dirt streaks all over us, and only learn up to a 4th grade reading level. We are quaint, but not uncivilized. Granted there are those kinds of towns in existence, but the majority of small town america is not the hick central most people picture.

It does however, take about 30 seconds to walk through downtown. Although the amount of people you'll stop and talk to on the way through will add about 20 extra minutes to your trip. Every one knows everyone and their mothers cousin, which can be a pro as well as a con. You can walk into any of the family owned businesses along the way and order your usual, no questions asked. Most places are able to be biked to, if not walked. Everyone knows where everyone lives, and you can hit up everyones house in one bike ride. Chester, like every small town in America, is quaint but not filled with hill billies like so many of you may wish.

So before you go and make your next "hick" joke, stop and remember that more than likely you are describing nothing more than a Hollywood depicted lifestyle! (at least in New England...)