Small towns are the lifeblood of America. They may not have all the excitement of the big cities, but small towns preserve history, maintain culture and remind us what makes these United States so unique. In fact, over 75% of the population of the U.S. live in towns with fewer than 20,000 people. Those are actually pretty big towns though. We scoured the nation to find 10 truly tiny towns, with populations of under 1,000. So the next time you get a hankering to take a road trip someplace quiet and meet some real salt-of-the-earth folks, head over to one of these 10 tiny towns in America.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (Pop. 286)
This historic town is nestled in a lush valley where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers come together. Harpers Ferry is famous for being the location of the armed slave revolt led by Abolitionist John Brown. Part of the beautiful town is now maintained by the National Park Service.
In this tiny West Virginia town you can take in the history of the area and enjoy the numerous historical markers. Head over to the Potomac Grille for a bite to eat, and stay the night at one of several quaint Bed & Breakfasts.
Leiper's Fork, Tennessee (Pop. 650)
Leiper's Fork Tennessee is a charming village located roughly 30 miles southwest of Nashville. The tiny town has attracted a number of artists, including pop star Justin Timberlake.
Grab a bite to eat at the original Puckett's, a restaurant and live music venue that has expanded to five locations across the state.
Located on the old Native American trail called Natchez Trace, Leiper's Fork is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In Leiper's Fork you can have some good Tennessee whiskey at the Leipers Fork Distillery, visit an art gallery, and even attend the occasional music festival.
Round Top, Texas (Pop. 90)
Source: Instagram/VisitRoundTop
One of the tiniest towns on our list, Round Top, Texas has fewer than 100 year-round residents, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming a tourist destination.
Facebook/OriginalRoundTopAntiquesFair
Round Top is home to the Round Top Antiques Fair, a semi-annual picker's paradise that draws thousands of people from all over the country.
Rancho Pillow in Round Top
Visitors to Round Top at other times of the year can enjoy their choice of VRBO or B&B, along with some excellent Texas home cooking restaurants. For a taste of culture, the Shakespeare at Winedale program offers classes and performances of Shakespeare's works.
McGregor, Iowa (Pop. 871)
The beautiful town of McGregor, Iowa is situated on the Mississippi River near Pike's Peak State Park.
McGregor is home to many idyllic antique stores and bookshops for visitors to browse to their heart's content. You can go hiking in Pike's Peak State Park, or check out Spook Cave, a cave tour which travels by boat through the Mississippi River.
The Ringling brothers of the famous circus were born in McGregor.
Moclips, Washington (Pop. 207)
Moclips is a popular tourist destination in Washington for its location on the Pacific Ocean. It's nestled in between the ocean on one side and gorgeous forests on the other.
The tiny seaside town might seem sparse, but there is plenty to do there. There's the Museum of the North Beach for history buffs, or water activities on the Moclips River. There is even an annual kite festival and a sand castle building contest every September.
Ogunquit, Maine (Pop. 892)
Up in the Northeast, you'll find this quaint beach town. Aside from being the hometown of several Stephen King characters, Ogunquit, Maine, is a real place, and it's really adorable.
A popular pastime in Ogunquit is sailing, but it also draws people from all around for its pristine beaches.
Jerome, Arizona (Pop. 455)
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Jerome, Ariz. sits between Phoenix and Flagstaff on top of what was once a volcano. A copper and gold mining town, Jerome grew to over 15,000 residents in its heyday, but then became something of a ghost town. In the 1960s a group of artists adopted the tiny town and have been working to keep it alive and thriving ever since.
San Simeon, California (Pop. 462)
Located on the famously scenic Pacific Coast Highway (also known as State Route 1), San Simeon is a tiny town with a whole lot to recommend it.
San Simeon is probably best known as the home of Hearst Castle, a colossal mansion built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.
In addition to that though, you can also see elephant seals along a beautiful stretch of beach below the cliffs at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
Fisher's Island, New York (Pop. 236)
Just off the North Fork of Long Island is a nine-mile stretch of beach known as Fisher's Island. It's been called "New York's secret island" because even some locals don't know it's there (probably because you have to go to Connecticut to access it).
Every Summer Fisher's Island becomes a haven for tired New Yorkers looking to escape the crush of the city crowd. The island is charming and quaint, but not as expensive as other beach locations near the city.
The Fisher's Island Club is a world-renowned golf course, and there's also a yacht club on the island. This town is teeny tiny, and also fancy shmancy.
Avon, North Carolina (Pop. 776)
Situated on the Outer Banks on just over two square miles is the tiny town of Avon, North Carolina.
Beach life is a big deal for the barrier island community of Avon. Sailing and fishing are popular pastimes. Avon pier is a common gathering place for locals looking for their next catch, and for those who prefer the waves, there's the Koru beach club.
