Tamworth, Australia

Capital City

With a population of 35,415, Tamworth is a service hub for the wider region, but don't expect a big-city experience. The retail industry dominates the economy, employing over 22% of the workforce. However, the town's heavy reliance on car travel and fast food has earned it the dubious title of Australia's 'fattest' city. Bureaucracy can also be a persistent headache, as evidenced by the council's initial rejection of a refugee resettlement program in 2006. Still, the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival draws over 100,000 visitors, so fans of that genre may find this to be the ideal country town.