WHERE DO WE LIVE: ADVANCE

Population: 1,139

Founded: 1883

County: Stoddard

Mayor: Kenneth Emerson

Unique point: "It's just a nice, little town," said City Clerk Teresa Carlton. "We have three parks, one that's especially nice. It's just a nice, clean town."

Vera Tilley: "I moved from St. Louis and I've lived here about 50 years. We have a lot of new people, and a lot of new homes have been built here in the last 10 years."

Harlena Francis: "I've lived here all my life. You know everybody. People do move into town, so there are some who we don't know very well yet.

Charles Partain: "All your business is done on a personal basis. You trust your neighbors and deal with three or four generations of the same family, so you know their background."

Mike Hoggard: (it is spelled Hoggard)

"I've lived here about 10 years. I like it small, not elbow to elbow. Most people I know have lived in the area for a while."