CNN/
Money Magazine has named Schertz, Texas one of the best small towns to live in across the United States.
Schertz is the largest city in the San Antonio metropolitan area with more than 32,000 residents. Schertz is America’s 39th best small town.
The city’s population grew more than 80 percent since the 1990 census, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas.
Every two years, Money Magazine releases its list of America’s best small towns. In 2007, Schertz was ranked 40th on the U.S. list and was one of only three Texas towns on the top 50 list. In 2009, Texas towns Schertz, Hewitt, Keller, Mansfield, Friendswood and Georgetown all earned spots on the magazine’s list. Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs Keller and Mansfield ranked seventh and 24th; Friendswood, in the Houston-Galveston area, ranked 32nd; Georgetown ranked 45th; Hewitt ranked 46th.
Schertz has been cited for its prosperous outlook and quality of living through sound planning and fiscal responsibility. Schertz is planning on opening new roads, a library and a recreation center this year. The city’s unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent in April, down from 4.7 percent in February. About a third of Schertz’s employed population works for Randolph Air Force Base.
“I think Money Magazine’s ranking of Schertz is a reflection of the hard work this community has done over the past 50 years,” says Hal Baldwin, who has represented Schertz as mayor since 1994. “I want to give credit to the volunteers … the people who work hard to make this city an outstanding place to live.”
Schertz City Council member Michael Carpenter says Money Magazine’s ranking is significant, particularly in the wake of the U.S. recession.
“We have stated that we want to be the premier city in the (San Antonio) metropolitan area — being recognized by CNN/Money Magazine as being in the top 40 small cities in the United States in 2007 and again now in 2009 suggests we are on the right path, that we are succeeding in our goal,” Carpenter says. “Only nine of the top 50 cities recognized in 2007 bettered their position in 2009 — Schertz is one of them. That’s keeping some pretty good company, and suggests that we may be a lot closer to our goal than some may think.”
