Discover the charm and beauty of America's small towns through their breathtaking skylines. From historic architecture to stunning natural backdrops, these towns offer a visual feast that rivals their big-city counterparts.
The skyscraper, an architectural marvel that first rose in Chicago over 130 years ago, has transformed skylines worldwide.
In the US, skyscrapers are recognized for their towering heights, with landmarks like the Space Needle and Empire State Building shaping iconic cityscapes.
Yet, the allure of skylines isn’t exclusive to large cities. Across the country, smaller towns boast equally captivating skylines, blending historic architecture with natural beauty.
As one of North Carolina’s oldest towns, New Bern’s skyline features historic buildings, such as the Tryon Palace and the picturesque downtown waterfront, influenced by its colonial past.
Famous for its wineries and the Whitman College campus, Walla Walla’s skyline includes charming downtown buildings and the surrounding rolling hills of wine country.
The gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park’s skyline includes rustic mountain architecture and panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Surrounded by hills and mountains, Ojai is known for its bohemian vibe and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The town’s skyline is a mix of quaint buildings, art galleries, and the famous Ojai Valley Inn.
Located in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Hendersonville boasts a charming Main Street with historic buildings set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains.
As the highest incorporated city in the U.S., Leadville’s skyline features historic 19th-century buildings, remnants of the silver mining boom, set against Colorado’s highest peaks.
A charming coastal town, Bay St. Louis’ skyline is characterized by its beaches, the Bay St. Louis Bridge, and a quaint downtown with art galleries and shops.
Nicknamed the “City of Bridges,” Valley City offers a unique skyline with its many historic bridges spanning the Sheyenne River, set against the backdrop of the scenic Sheyenne River Valley.
Known as the “City of Ships,” Bath’s skyline features the Maine Maritime Museum, historic downtown, and the Bath Iron Works shipyard.
Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough’s skyline includes historic buildings, storytelling centers, and the charming Main Street.
The table below shows America’s top 70 most beautiful small skylines:
Ranking | Town | State |
---|---|---|
11 | North Platte | Nebraska |
12 | Fenwick Island | Delaware |
13 | Ajo | Arizona |
14 | Astoria | Oregon |
15 | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania |
16 | Jim Thorpe | Pennsylvania |
17 | Laughlin | Nevada |
18 | Truth or Consequences | New Mexico |
19 | Breckenridge | Colorado |
20 | Milledgeville | Georgia |
21 | Staunton | Virginia |
22 | Donaldsonville | Louisiana |
23 | Mobridge | South Dakota |
24 | Thomasville | Georgia |
25 | Van Buren | Arkansas |
26 | Lewes | Delaware |
27 | Wallace | Idaho |
28 | Charlevoix | Michigan |
29 | Eufaula | Oklahoma |
30 | Scarsdale | New York |
31 | Vincennes | Indiana |
32 | Bartlesville | Oklahoma |
33 | Lebanon | Ohio |
34 | Litchfield | Connecticut |
35 | Cape May | New Jersey |
36 | Ferndale | California |
37 | Old Saybrook | Connecticut |
38 | Cottonwood Falls | Kansas |
39 | Hanover | New Hampshire |
40 | Paducah | Kentucky |
41 | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
42 | Bishop Hill | Illinois |
43 | Boone | Iowa |
44 | Damariscotta | Maine |
45 | Monroeville | Alabama |
46 | Calistoga | California |
47 | Wellfleet | Massachusetts |
48 | Lynchburg | Virginia |
49 | Manchester | Vermont |
50 | Middlebury | Vermont |
51 | Warren | Rhode Island |
52 | Wiscasset | Maine |
53 | Granbury | Texas |
54 | Peterborough | New Hampshire |
55 | Wheeling | West Virginia |
56 | French Lick | Indiana |
57 | Camden | South Carolina |
58 | Cape Girardeau | Missouri |
59 | Cedarburg | Wisconsin |
60 | Logan | Utah |
61 | Red Wing | Minnesota |
62 | Sandwich | Massachusetts |
63 | Wooster | Ohio |
64 | Grand Marais | Minnesota |
65 | Havre de Grace | Maryland |
66 | Solomons | Maryland |
67 | Weston | Missouri |
68 | Littleton | New Hampshire |
69 | Marion | Alabama |
70 | Fairbanks | Alaska |
Survey of 1,000 Americans; January 2024.
Online panel survey of 1,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting