All America City
The small town of Saranac Lake, New York is a rural community of fewer than 5,000 people, located in the heart of the Adirondack Park. To me, it represents a nostalgic example of American culture.
In 1998 the National Civic League awarded the town the title of "All America City," recognizing the town's strong sense of patriotism and community. The fabric of American culture has changed dramatically over the past few decades, but Saranac Lake seems to remain unaffected.
Growing up I used to resent the towns inability to change. Now I realize how rare it is for a community to resist a path of strip malls, Wal-Mart and fast food chains. The people of Saranac Lake endure extremely long and cold winters and there is no major industry to sustain a strong economy. They are honest, resilient and hardworking.
