quarried sandstone and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. BEAUTIFICATION AND COMMUNITY SPACES While economic development remains important, Huntsville’s leadership recognizes that community character shapes quality of life more profoundly than growth statistics alone. The town invests substantially in public spaces that foster connection among residents and visitors, anchored by a revitalized town square and park system. “When I first became mayor, everybody started talking about getting bigger, bigger, bigger. My motto was that we must learn to take care of what we have before we get more,” Mayor Jeffers emphasizes.“We have been concentrating on that. Our guys work really hard. We mow rights of way. We have a town square that hosts a festival on the 4th of July that draws anywhere from three to six thousand people with fireworks and food. It is one of the biggest festivals. The whole county shows up here.” The natural setting enhances Huntsville’s appeal without requiring massive investment. Located atop the Cumberland Plateau, the town serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation areas that attract visitors year-round. This geographic advantage allows Huntsville to focus beautification efforts on maintaining rather than creating aesthetic appeal. “As far as beautification and beauty here, it is unmatched,” says Mayor Jeffers.“We have mountains, fresh air, and tourism opportunities. We went through the coal boom, then coal played out, then we went through logging and timber. As that has slowed down, we have graduated into tourism. We just try to capitalize on the positives we have where we live.” The town square serves as Huntsville’s central gathering place, hosting community events that strengthen social bonds. Beyond its annual Independence Day celebration, the town supports Heritage Festival each September at the Museum of Scott County, which according to the town’s website is “the nation’s first museum to be located on a high school campus.” 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 HUNTSVILLE, TN
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