Harrisonburg, VA, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 51,814, Harrisonburg may seem like a sleepy college town, but the reality is a bureaucratic headache. The city has been on a mission to revitalize its historic downtown, but the process has come at a cost - in the 1960s, an urban renewal project bulldozed a predominantly Black neighborhood, displacing over 200 families. While Harrisonburg now boasts an eclectic arts scene and diverse population, the heavy hand of local government is a persistent thorn. Those looking to escape the big city grind may find the city's humid, four-season climate and small-town politics a refreshing change of pace, but others may bristle at the red tape.