Though everybody loves a good, bustling city, small towns come with their unique charms. There are many benefits to living in a small town. These include a close-knit community feel and reduced cost of living in some cases. However, there are also challenges in these areas that you don’t always hear about upfront. A lack of job opportunities and everybody knowing about your personal life are just to name a few of those things. In Alligator, Mississippi, small town living is not always easy, and now their own mayor is speaking up about that.
Alligator, Mississippi, is an insanely small town with a population of only over 100 people. The town came to be in the 1900s when Italian immigrants made their way to Alligator, settling and working on delta plantations throughout the area. The mayor of Alligator, a black man by the name of Tommie Brown, has so much to say about his little town. Reporter @magnolia.voices speaks with one of the townspeople when he visits the area to interview the community. In his TikTok video, he’s seen talking to a man who lives in Alligator. The citizen tells him that there are no police in Alligator and they have to call the county sheriff’s office if they need police. That means it could take 30 or more minutes for police to arrive if somebody is in need.
Magnolia then speaks with Tommie himself. He asks Tommie, “What’s going on in Alligator?” Tommie tells him it’s “pretty quiet” and he tries to “keep the peace” in the area. He says that one of the biggest things their small-town struggles with is trying to keep businesses alive in the area. Two grocery/convenience stores closed on them suddenly, leaving them with very few options nearby for groceries and other needs. As Tommie says, a lot of Alligator citizens don’t have transportation and “now they have to drive,” putting them in a unique and devastating situation. These are things many people don’t think about when they have access to major city perks.
Many commenters were divided on how to feel about small towns from what they’ve seen in this video. It’s important for people to understand that these towns definitely struggle in their own ways. One commenter pointed out, “No, Mississippi is full of little towns like this that end up being food deserts. Most people have to drive at least 25 minutes to get groceries. There is no public transportation.” And delivery? Never. Another commenter shared, “I live in a small town in Mississippi. We got 2 gas stations and a Dollar General.”
Hopefully, Alligator, Mississippi sees future success and growth in their small town. It’s a big ask when it comes to these areas, where businesses see few opportunities. But all hope is not lost.
