Cape 66th in 'Dreamtown' rankings

Cape Girardeau was named an American Dreamtown by American City Business Journals on Monday. American City Business Journals is one of the largest publishers of metropolitan business news weeklies in the United States.

Cape Girardeau ranked 66th in the survey, which compared 140 micropolitan areas in 20 statistical categories based on U.S. Census Bureau data. A micropolitan area is defined by a central community with 10,000 to 50,000 residents, including the surrounding countryside.

The only other Missouri city on the list, Branson, ranked 103rd. Paducah, Ky., was 85th.

The top three small towns were, in descending order, Torrington, Conn., Bozeman, Mont., and Lexington Park, Md.

In a statement issued by the city Tuesday, Mayor Jay Knudtson said he was "very proud that our city has been recognized as an American Dreamtown. What I feel makes this more of an accomplishment is that we were named to this list without applying or lobbying for it, based on several quality of life issues."

The story is at www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/68.html.