A town with a strong historical connection to St. Mary’s County has been named the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” in a contest sponsored by USA TODAY newspaper and Rand McNally. The results were aired July 25 on the Travel Channel.
In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s there was a mass migration of families from Southern Maryland to the area in Kentucky of which Bardstown is the center. Today the area’s phonebook is replete with names familiar to St. Mary’s County.
Periodically, reunions are held either in Maryland or Kentucky to commemorate the connection between the two areas. The last reunion was held in Leonardtown in 2010 and before that in 2008 in Bardstown.
Three sets of people were chosen in the national contest to trek across the United States to find the prettiest, best-for-food, and best-for-fun small towns. Nikki and Dusty Green from Spicewood, TX were chosen to visit the five “prettiest” small town finalists and pick the winner. According to the USA.TODAY website, http://www.usatoday.com/ the Greens discussed what made Bardstown stand out: “Bourbon is Bardstown’s history and tradition and the countryside is beautiful, but we probably got fewer scenic shots in Bardstown than anywhere else.” Instead, they say, “the people turned us around. We realized maybe we’re not just here to see mountains and rivers, maybe there’s something else. Our hearts are still in this place.”
They said the biggest surprise of their visit to the town was “the town itself.” They said they had never heard of it and didn’t expect to find much there, but “were smitten by the downtown’s “classic Norman Rockwell look and feel.”
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