Sykesville Named America's Coolest Small Town

SYKESVILLE, MD — The nation is taking note of how things are done in Sykesville, which is officially the coolest small town in America, according to Budget Travel.

The travel gurus asked for nominations for the coolest small towns in the U.S. this spring.

Towns had to have fewer than 20,000 residents and contain a "certain something" that made them standout places.

After receiving thousands of submissions, Budget Travel narrowed the field to 15 towns, based on which areas received the most nominations, coupled with editorial input to factor in geographic diversity.

Then the contest went into the hands of the public, via online voting. Sykesville came away with 44.3 percent of the votes, a landslide away from runner-up Pipestone, Minn., which had 19.1 percent, Budget Travel reported.

The town set up a campaign website "VoteSykesville.com" in an effort to put Sykesville—a town of 4,443—on the map.

People commented on why they loved Sykesville on Budget's website, and here are a few excerpts:

• "Sykesville is the coolest small town I know and like to visit. They throw amazing events throughout the year at every season. The community as a whole is very close knit and welcoming..."
• "It's a family friendly town with beautiful parks and playgrounds, lovely shops and wonderful restaurants. The history is rich."
• "Sykesville Main Street has some of the most quaint buildings that look like buildings found in a model train set."
• "Love how Sykesville makes you feel at home wherever you go and the people always treat you like family!!!"

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, which encouraged citizens to vote in the contest, captured the spirit of Sykesville this way: "In a state full of small towns with charm, Sykesville stands out. Traversed by the B&O Railroad, which still passes through the town regularly, the town also boasts a beautiful view of the Patapsco River, along with a thriving main street that has given new life to the community as it rebounded from the recession. Along the town’s main street, visitors can find many independently-owned shops and restaurants. The town also pays homage to its railroad history through train rides for children, model train displays, and a restaurant located in the former B&O Train Station."

This is the second Maryland town in two years to earn bragging rights; Berlin was named America's coolest town in 2014.

Budget Travel will include a feature on Sykesville in an upcoming issue of its magazine, which is published six times annually.

Related: Maryland's Berlin Voted 'America's Coolest Small Town'

Here are the top 10 "coolest small towns in America," according to Budget Travel:

1. Sykesville, Md.
2. Pipestone, Minn.
3. Baker City, Ore.
4. Fairport, N.Y.
5. Abingdon, Va.
6. Kidron, Ohoi
7. Ocean Springs, Miss.
8. Niles, Minn.
9. Taos, N.M.
10. Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Photo of Sykesville by Acroterion, via Wikimedia Commons through GNU Free Documentation License.