Spring Hill Florida is one of the northernmost retirement communities on Florida’s (west) Gulf Coast. If you drive between Tallahassee (on the inside of Florida’s elbow) down the coast toward Tampa you will be struck by how empty the landscape is for almost 100 miles. Development starts just above Spring Hill; bulldozers relentlessly churn further north from here every day.…...

Orangeburg, population 13,000,  was chosen an All-American city in 2005.  Located in central South Carolina this small town has several colleges (including top-rated Claflin University and South Carolina State University - both predominately black schools). It is known as the Garden City and has a lovely downtown. Orangeburg has an active and very successful redevelopment program. Photo of St. Paul…...

Harrisburg is the capital and almost geographical center of the state of Pennsylvania. Once depressed and down, Harrisburg had a resurgence thanks to the money being spent by the state in development. Unfortunately in 2010 the effect of that spending caused severe financial problems (see What is Not Special About Harrisburg below). Its geographical setting is spectacular, located as it…...

Biloxi, Mississippi, is on the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Sound. This old town has miles and miles (26) of white sandy beaches and at least 9 major casinos, including the Hard Rock, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, and Beau Rivage. The city has many attractions (see What is Special in next section) besides these as well.  Biloxi has a small…...