Dreamtown USA

The American City Business Journals announced last week what we already knew: The Cape Girardeau region is a great place to live.

Our region was named an American Dreamtown by the publication, No. 66 on the list. Cape Girardeau ranked ahead of Branson, Mo. (103rd on the list and the only other Missouri town) and Paducah, Ky., which was No. 85.

The publication compared 140 micropolitan areas -- a central community with 10,000 to 50,000 population -- in 20 categories based on census data.

According to an article on the Business Journals' Web site, the highest scores went to well-rounded places with light traffic, healthy economies, moderate costs of living, impressive housing stocks, strong educational systems, and easy access to big-city attractions.

The article noted that more retirees are considering moving out of big cities and into small towns.

Thanks go to our community leaders, past and present, for shaping Cape Girardeau.

It's nice to have the recognition in a magazine. It's even nicer to have a great place to live and work.