Lexington Voted #5 in USA TODAY's 2017 Best Southern Small Town Contest

LEXINGTON, VA (May 4, 2017) - Lexington, Virginia has been named one of USA TODAY's 2017 Best Southern Small Towns. The ranking is part of a recent Reader's Choice Contest administered by 10Best.com, a standalone travel media site, owned by USA TODAY.

10Best.com editors and travel contributors selected 20 of the best small towns with populations under 10,000 (according to the latest census data) in the region. They considered over 100 possibilities and narrowed it down to a collection of small towns representing each state in the region. Throughout the month of April, 10Best.com and USA TODAY readers voted daily for their favorites, and the results are in.

The top 10 winners in the category Best Southern Small Town are as follows:

  1. New Albany, Mississippi
  2. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
  3. Blowing Rock, North Carolina
  4. Travelers Rest, South Carolina
  5. Lexington, Virginia
  6. Madison, Georgia
  7. Sanibel Island, Florida
  8. Lewisburg, West Virginia
  9. Wilson, Arkansas
  10. Highlands, North Carolina

"We are honored to be nominated and the results indicate the deep pride people have for Lexington as a community and as a travel destination. Lexington is a fantastic place visit and we will be using this award in our marketing efforts," said Patty Williams, Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism Director of Marketing.

Williams also noted, "Via Lexington & the Rockbridge Area Tourism Office's social media platforms, the contest received a total of 21,500 impressions with 1,350 clicks to Lexington's voting page. Other organizations, universities, businesses and fans of Lexington also promoted the contest, increasing voting opportunities. The Chamber of Commerce included the 10Best.com poll in their Chamber Weekly e-newsletter, furthering the reach to 2,200 subscribers. The combined efforts resulted in Lexington moving from ninth place to fifth place in the overall ranking!"

"Our members were thrilled to see Lexington receive a top 5 placement. Lexington is a great place to live, work and do business," added Tracy Lyons, Chamber Executive Director.

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The core of the site's uniqueness is its team of local travel experts: a well-traveled and well-educated group who are experts in their fields.

To learn more about the 2017 Best Southern Small Towns, visit
www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-southern-small-town-2017/.

To learn more about Lexington/Rockbridge County, upcoming events, activities and more, visit https://lexingtonvirginia.com.