We are not a flyover state ... We are the heart of America

Small Town Showcase 

We strive to highlight the uniqueness of Missouri’s small towns, and to showcase the bigger picture of what Small Town America really is and why it should not be overlooked, overshadowed, or under appreciated. 

Each year, communities will be nominated and voted on by Missourians to become our annual “Featured Five” communities. Each of our Featured Five will work with Missouri Humanities on the following:

  • A three to five-minute video about their community, shot on site
  • An hour-long podcast, roundtable-style
  • A feature in our bi-annual publication, MoHumanities
  • A highlight reel, featuring all five communities, to be shown during our annual gala

Questions?

Contact Caitlin Yager, Director of Heritage Programs, at caitlin@mohumanities.org

Nominate Your Community for 2024!

Nominations for our 2024 Featured Five are now open! Click the button below to nominate your community. Please note: communities must be located within the State of Missouri and have populations of 10,000 people or fewer.

Our 2023 “Featured Five” Communities

We are thrilled to announce that our Featured Five communities for 2023 are:

Norborne (Carroll County, Population: 637)

Seymour (Webster County, Population: 2,000)

St. James (Phelps County, Population: 3,900) 

Doniphan (Ripley County, Population: 2,000)

Carl Junction (Jasper County, Population: 8,000) 

2023 videos and podcasts will start dropping in Spring!

2021-2022 Pilot Communities

Small Town Showcase Social Media (1)

Lamar, MO

VIDEO COMING SOON! Lamar is home to just over 4,200 Missourians. Many know this town for their famed high school football team, which has won multiple state titles. But this community, which calls itself “a place of legendary beginnings,” also showcases strength, dedication, and opportunity.

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Sweet Springs, MO

Sweet Springs is more than meets the eye. This picturesque community in Saline County, just about an hour east of Kansas City, invites you to take a closer look; you’re sure to find a town dedicated to revitalization and progress, and full of potential. 

Small Town Showcase Social Media (4)

Mountain Grove, MO

Deep in the Missouri Ozarks, on the border of Texas and Wright Counties, sits the town of Mountain Grove. Surrounded by deep green pines, clear rivers and streams, and rolling hills, Mountain Grove is full of small town hospitality and passion for this community.

Chillicothe, MO

 
Situated along Highway 36 in Livingston County, Chillicothe is perhaps most notable for being the “Home of Sliced Bread.” But there is so much more to love about this Missouri community! From wonderful museums to breathtaking murals, Chillicothe is certainly worth a visit. 

Marble Hill, MO

 
Marble Hill, in Bollinger County, is situated in Southeast Missouri. This community of 1,500 people is nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks and is a destination for outdoor recreation, charming shops, smiling locals and the home of the “Missouri Dinosaur.” 

Small Town Showcase Podcast  

Available on all podcast apps. Click the button below to find your preferred platform. Don’t forget to listen, rate, & subscribe!
 

We are the heart of America ....
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