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Department of Pediatrics Morgantown is one of the best kept secrets in the United States, according to the June 2004 issue of Men's Journal. The city is ranked No. 3 in a survey of the Best Small Towns in the country by the magazine and is in the top 50 best places to live. Page 90 of the June issue, which is on stands now, describes the city as full of "Morgantownies ... people who fall in love with the place and never leave, thus ensuring that the word never gets out." Jack Thompson, special projects manager for the Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau, said he talked up Morgantown to the editor of Men's Journal several months ago at a convention, and then got an e-mail from the editor saying Morgantown had made the cut. "This is just fantastic for the city because it gives it the recognition it deserves," Thompson said. Men's Journal listed the city's proximity to trout fishing and whitewater rafting, Cheat Lake, the Monongahela River, WVU -- a "sports powerhouse" -- and its PRT among the community's assets. Morgantown also scored points for its dependable job market steeped in education, agriculture, adventure and medicine. Morgantown Chamber of Commerce President Scott Rotruck said he thinks Morgantown is a very healthy community in more ways than one. "One thing we're really trying to focus on is a practical place to live with a high-quality way of life," Rotruck said. "Morgantown is a healthy community. We not only have the health care capacity but a whole lot of medical talent working to prevent health care problems." He credited corporations such as Mylan Pharmaceuticals, nonprofit organizations such as Health Right, recently renamed the Milan Puskar Health Right Clinic, and the educational systems and private citizens for helping Morgantown gain this recognition. "Everyone here just pitches in and helps. That's what makes it a great place to live. It has a wonderful, collaborative spirit," he said. "When there's problems around here, people roll up their sleeves and address them." Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice agreed. "It's not just one entity. It's all of the elements that make up the Morgantown community," Justice said. Small towns were designated by Men's Journal as having a population of less than 100,000. The magazine ranked Missoula, Mont., the No. 1 Best Small Town. New Paltz, N.Y., came in second. The No. 1 Best Small City with a population from 100,000-1 million is Boulder, Colo., and the Best Big City with a population of more than 1 million is San Diego, Calif., according to the survey. Info: www.mensjournal.com. |
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