A thousand people.  That’s Howard’s population, and while that number may seem miniscule to city dwellers, one thousand is actually a comfortable figure in the minds of those well-acquainted with rural America.

A thousand people means a town small enough to foster a sense of community and belonging spontaneously, rather than through contrived ritual.  It means a town small enough to walk most any place, where the sights and sounds of the natural world are ever present, and where there’s a sense of safety most contemporary Americans have never known.  When you’re part of a community this small, there’s a whole caring community behind you should a personal emergency happen.

But a community of a thousand is also big enough to offer a range of
day-to-day comforts. There’s commerce here, places to grab coffee or lunch or dinner, and a steady school enrollment that ensures quality public education, kindergarten through high school. And yes, to address a concern urban friends sometimes raise, among a thousand people you’re able to carve out some anonymity when you need it.