Small City Wins Magazine’s “Nicest Places in America” Contest

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Columbiana, Ohio, has won Reader’s Digest’s yearly “Nicest Places in America” contest, which honors American communities that promote kindness and respect. The city’s Main Street Theater is one of the most important factors that contributed to the victory. Reader’s Digest labeled the local theater as the city’s crown jewel because of the sense of community it demonstrates. Some of the theater productions feature actors with special needs. According to the actors, participating in the productions boosts their confidence. Aside from the theater productions, a few other activities that showcase community spirit were also named. One of these activities is the community members’ volunteer project that delivers diapers to underprivileged moms. The magazine also made mention of the people’s effort to donate money to the Columbiana Community Foundation. Columbiana is the third city to win the award since the contest’s establishment in 2017. The winner of the contest was decided by Reader’s Digest editors, a panel of judges, and a nationwide poll, in which the city earned over 45,000 votes. Each year, Reader’s Digest asks subscribers to nominate cities or towns for the contest. This year, Reader’s Digest received the greatest number of nominees with over 1,000 submissions. The number of nominees had to be narrowed down to 50 contenders, allowing only one finalist from each state. Upon the announcement of the winner, Columbiana Mayor Bryan Blakeman expressed delight for the recognition the city received on a national level. According to the mayor, the award will help the city gain popularity among potential residents. Through the city’s good reputation, the mayor is also hoping to attract businesses that can invest in the community.