WINNER: Nicest Place in America - Gallatin

From the Editors: When a white police officer in Gallatin, Tennessee, shot and killed an African American woman who was wielding an ax last year, residents in all corners of this Nashville suburb were understandably on edge. Deadly encounters between white police officers and black residents have resulted in civil unrest from Baltimore to Dallas to Minneapolis, and there was a real fear that violence could erupt here too. Instead, something miraculous happened. Local residents hopped on Facebook and started to plan a prayer vigil to recognize victims of violence around the country. About 60 people—including nine pastors, 20 police officers, and the chief of police—gathered in the parking lot of Gallatin City Hall. It was a diverse crowd, representing Gallatin’s diverse and growing population.

“It was a good moment for the city,” said Josh Cross, a reporter at the Gallatin News. “You’re going to have divides anywhere, but there’s an open dialogue. The chief of police is out talking with folks. They can call him on his cell phone if they have questions.”

Gallatin is very much a symbol of the booming new South, where an influx of new residents has remade the city in unexpected ways. The population has grown from 8,000 to nearly 40,000 in recent years, creating vibrant communities of Sudanese, Asian American, and Hispanic residents learning to celebrate each other—and their shared home.

And yet the small-town spirit still lives in Gallatin. “People greet each other and wave when they pass on the streets. They help in times of need,” says Mayor Paige Brown, who nominated Gallatin. “In the true tradition of Tennessee, we volunteer.”