Ten years after many predicted their demise, small towns are surviving, even thriving. A strong economy is helping. The ripple effect of the farm crisis, many thought, would hasten their end. What happened? And what are small towns like these days? We went back to Atwater to find out. Atwater, population 1000, is the little town near Willmar in west central Minnesota we visited a decade ago. Here's our follow-up report, Return to Atwater, from Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson.
In 2008, Minnesota's voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution: to protect drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
Efforts to digitize this initial assortment of thousands of historical audio material was made possible through the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. A wide range of Minnesota subject matter is represented within this collection.
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