Floyd Makes “Great Places You’ve (Maybe) Never Heard Of’ List
National magazine honors Blue Ridge town for folk music and back-to-the-land traditions
Floyd, Va., has earned a spot on Mother Earth News’ fifth annual “Great Places You’ve (Maybe) Never Heard Of” list. Mother Earth News, the leading magazine dedicated to sustainable living, features six communities in its February-March issue, on sale Jan. 25.
With a population of 432 people, Floyd makes up for its size with character. Floyd’s rich folk music tradition began before recorded music, and frequent concerts and impromptu jam sessions take place at the Floyd Country Store.
In addition, Floyd’s back-to-the-land community is thriving with green businesses, artisans and local food producers. Sustain Floyd is an organization created to study the community’s long-term development to ensure growth occurs in a sustainable manner.
“Floyd has a back-to-the-land ethic combined with a strong mountain music tradition,” says Alison Rogers, assistant editor for the magazine. “Mother Earth News focuses on cool things you can do to live wisely and create community, and we think our readers will identify with a place like Floyd.”
The annual Great Places list serves as a fun way to recognize cities and towns that demonstrate positive civic energy, invest in the local economy and develop meaningful initiatives for the environment.
Other cities making this year’s list are Huntsville, Ala.; Elgin, Ill.; Louisville, Ky.; Carrboro, N.C.; and Fredericksburg, Texas.