Every town is different. But many share similar characteristics such as access to transportation or to farmland or to a good place to catch fish. Why was the location for your town chosen as a good place to settle?

Use an encyclopedia, old newspapers, and books and magazines from your library to complete the following worksheet. Your teacher may be able to help you by introducing you to your town's historian or archivist (someone who keeps track of old photos and documents).

Name of Town:  ___________________________________________

State or Province:  ______________________________________

Country:  ________________________________________________

My town was founded in _________________ (year)

Today, __________________ people live in my town.

The town's population is _____ growing       _____ shrinking.

The area in which my town is located was first settled by 
native peoples.

_____ Yes             _____ No

Why or why not?  __________________________________________

My town is close to water.  _____ Yes         _____ No

What type of water?  _____ Lake     _____ River     

                     _____ Ocean    _____ Stream

Can the water be navigated?__________________________

Has the water been used for transportation or as a business 
(for fishing or with a dam for hydroelectric power)?  

_____ Yes          _____ No

Describe how water has been used in the town:  

____________________________________________________________

My town is (or was) close to a transportation route.

_____ Yes              _____ No

What type of transportation route?

_____ Road         _____ Train Line           _____ Other

Access to transportation played a role in my town's history:

_____ Yes              _____ No

Why?  __________________________________________________

My town is close to farmland.  _____ Yes     _____ No

Major crops:  ______________________________________

Are the crops processed in or near town?  _____ Yes    _____ No

Has the amount of farming near town changed over the 
last century?  

_____ Yes              _____ No

When my town was founded, the major industry was:

___________________________________________________

Today the major industry in my town is:

___________________________________________________

Is the town a better or worse place for business than it 
was 100 years ago?  

_____ Better     _____ Worse

Why?  ______________________________________________

The major features of the environment around my town are:  


___________________________________________________

Are outdoor recreation or tourism important in the town?

_____ Yes        _____ No

Is the natural environment around the town in better or 
worse shape than it was in the 1970s?

_____ Better     _____ Worse

Why?  ______________________________________________

I think the three best things about my town are:

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

I think the three worst things about my town are:

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

What will my town will be like in 20 years?  
What will be different?  What will be the same?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

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