Dying Downtowns

Why is it that the small cities are dying?. Well, there are many reasons. For example, it is hard for a city of less than 50,000 to have the kind of nightlife that attracts young people. Case in point, Bloomington, IN (69,291) has a college, a mall, two multi screen movie theaters and many restaurants, whereas Martinsville, IN (11,698) which used to be a thriving metropolis and the county seat has only a dollar movie theater with one screen and a drive in which is closed in the winter.

Many of the small mom and pop shops shut down when Walmart moved into Martinsville. There is no mall and many businesses in the downtown area have shuttered. The downtown is looking run down and sad. It has seen better days.

Most young people talk of going to live in California or Florida away from the boring town. There is little nightlife and few restaurants. Martinsville has not been able to attract new industry like Bloomington and it has suffered a lot. The only reason that Martinsville still exists is that it has three highways 67, 37, and 39 going through it and that it acts as a bedroom community for mighty Indianapolis the capital of Indiana with a major metro population of over one million.

Still the hour long commute to a declining rust belt Indy and the high price of gasoline have forced many people to move out of Martinsville and relocate in other states like Texas. Although the median price for a house in Martinsville is low, only $105,000, Indiana has state income tax and the once low sales tax of only 2% has now shot up to 6%. Also the once low property taxes have shot up as well. Because the city needs money and the industrial base is leaving.

This means that a person moving to Dallas, TX could find a much better higher paying job and maybe have to pay $140,000 for a comparable house without the long commute and the cold weather and the lack of entertainment.

For this reason while Dallas, TX continues to grow, Martinsville and small cites like it are shrinking. They are seeing businesses pack up and leave. The worst problem is that most young people are leaving. They are the future of any city.