One KY City Keeps Being Named America’s Friendliest Small Town

Here we go again. I'm going to lead with high praise of Kentucky small towns. I've covered my feelings about their personalities a number of time, so I'll cut to the chase. Local flavor, local food, and, well, the locals. I've never met one in my travels who was unfriendly.

When I see stories about small towns that have won recognition for whatever reason, I've wondered if I should make my own personal "awards." They would amount to no more than making a list of the small towns I've visited and then adding a check mark for "yes, I like it, and I'll go back," or leaving it blank for "okay, they've seen the last of me." Fortunately, the latter doesn't describe an experience I've had, to this point.

Friendliest Small Town in America

A Kentucky city I would place in the FORMER category has also garnered the attention of digital travel platform Islands.com. The publication has noticed that Murray KY has been named "America's friendliest small town" on a number of occasions and did their own investigative work. And this recognition has been happening for a long time.

Murray KY Named America's Friendliest Small Town

Murray's tourism commission explains that food, patriotism, friendliness, fun, and beauty are the reasons Rand McNally, USA Today, and Destination Marketing Association International have been such big fans.

I cannot disagree. I don't know about ALL the local grub in Murray, but I do know Rudy's on the Square rocks it out when it comes to good old southern cooking. The downtown area is small-town picturesque, just like the best Kentucky small towns always are, and there's a certain university that has received tons of praise for its music department and its journalism and mass communications curriculum, among other areas of study. There's also an excellent basketball program. Perhaps this production from Team Kentucky sums it up.

Murray really does cover all the bases and throws in a world-class university for good measure. I can UNDERSTAND why it's "regularly" cited as America's friendliest small town. There's a whole lot there that will put a body in a good mood.