Jenny Clements realized her family made the right decision to move to Prattville in, of all places, the driver's license line at the Autauga County Probate Judge's Office.
Jenny and Ralph Clements and their sons Ralph IV, 15, and Turner, 9, moved to Prattville about a month ago. They are still in the unpacking of boxes and repainting their new home phase of the endeavor. Shortly after getting to town, Jenny had to get a new driver's license and register a new vehicle, meaning two trips to the probate office.
"Everybody hates the DMV, right?" she said with a laugh. "Both times I went it was like 15 minutes to 5 and I was in and out both times in about 12 minutes. They were so pleasant and wonderful and welcoming.
"When I had to register the car, I didn't have all the paperwork. So the lady called my bank and straightened everything out, and this was like 10 minutes before closing. She was so sweet. I walked out and I was like, 'I love Prattville!'"
That exchange may not be one of the criteria a financial services website looked at when it named Prattville a Top Ten small town for young families in Alabama. Or maybe it was. NerdWallet looked at the home affordability, prosperity and growth, quality of education and family friendliness in 96 places in Alabama with a population of 5,000 or more.
Jobs brought the Clements from Tuscaloosa to Montgomery in 2014. Jenny works in a medical office in Prattville, and Ralph works at the Alabama Department of Revenue. Ralph IV attends Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and Turner goes to Holy Cross Episcopal School. The family was renting a house in Cloverdale, and when it came time to buy, Jenny slipped a couple of houses in Prattville on the list.
"Working here, she knew more about Prattville," Ralph III said. "Being from Tuscaloosa, I knew Prattville as just a wide spot in the road on Highway 82 that we drove through to visit relatives in Montgomery. I wasn't sure about buying here. But one weekend we were looking and Jenny convinced me to come to Prattville. She got me off the main road, and I really liked what I saw."
Having sons attending schools across the river likely won't cut into family activities in Prattville, Ralph III said.
"There are a lot of activities for kids in Prattville, and we have parks close by our house," he said. "We love what they have done downtown, in the historic area."
And Jenny has noticed the retail and restaurant options.
"You really have just about everything you need in Prattville," she said. "It's good to have the chain restaurants. But we have fallen in love with D.J.'s Seafood and Donut Heaven. It's those independent mom and pop type restaurants that give a city so much."
The study looked at a range of parameters.
"The median value of housing in the state is $124,900, 29 percent below the value of the national mark. Affordability in the state is demonstrated by the 69.7 percent homeownership rate — higher than the national average of 64.9 percent," it reads. "For a young family seeking a long-term investment in a home and their community, Alabama is a solid choice.
"NerdWallet found the communities in the Yellowhammer State that offer young families the best combination of solid schools, great neighbors and affordability."
So what makes Prattville so attractive?
"If you were dropped in the middle of Prattville, you could easily be confused into thinking that you were in a classic New England town," the report goes on. "This is an element of Prattville's original design by founder Daniel Pratt, a New Hampshire native who established the first industry in Alabama. The town remains quite affordable for young families — the median home value of $149,900 is about 12 percent lower than the top 10 average."
Those selling points are nothing new to Doris Adair, a Prattville native. She served as the city's welcome wagon lady through the chamber of commerce from 1988 until she retired in 1996. She then started Warm Welcome Greetings, which she sold last year. She visits an average of 500 families per year.
"It's always been schools, a safe community and small town charm when I asked why they moved to Prattville," Adair said. "So many of our military families were impressed when I knocked on their door. They had moved so often, and no one had ever taken the time to welcome them to their new home.
"But I think the biggest advantage is our image of being a small town. Even with all our growth over the past four decades, we have been able to hold on to that small town feel."
Prattville has a positive image, which can't be underestimated, said Melissa Mills, who bought the welcome business from Adair.
"That's especially true with our military families," she said. "They move so often, they know where the good places are. Prattville has the reputation as being a good place to raise your family."
Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr., another native, would agree. As Lobbyist in Chief for the city, he can tick off the advantages one by one: close proximity to Montgomery, a good location in the center of the state served by a vast network of federal and state highways, receptive business climate and stellar public schools.
"Our biggest asset is our people," he said. "A lot of cities have shopping and access to the interstate. Prattville is unique because of its people. We are a caring city, we support one another in the good times and we rally in the bad times.
"We do have that caring spirit, that small town feel."
That's what attracted Wayne and Stella Myers, who moved to Prattville in December from India, when Wayne took a job at International Paper's Riverdale Mill in Dallas County. The couple knew nothing of Prattville when the move was pending, Stella said.
"My husband had talked with friends who work at the IP mill in Prattville," she said. "When we first visited, we liked it, and it's very hard to impress me. Prattville is very nice, it has restaurants and shopping. The crime level is low.
"Prattville has very nice people, I think that's what impressed us most. The city is growing but it still feels like a small town."
For many residents, it's hard to consider Prattville a "small town." Census estimates in 2013 put the population at 35,229, and it doesn't look like the decades long growth trend is going to change in the future.
So can Prattville hold onto that small town feel that everyone seems to cherish?
Adair answers with an unequivocal yes.
"Growing up, I would sit on the front porch of our house on Washington Street," she said. "Not only did you know everybody in town, you knew what cars they drove. We have seen tremendous growth. But there are enough Prattville natives around that keep that small town spirit alive.
"We guard that spirit and we make sure it's going to continue to be a big part of our community."
The Top Ten cities in Alabama for young families
• 1 Southside (Etowah)
• 2 Meridianville (Madison)
• 3 Madison (Madison)
• 4 Trussville
• 5 Pelham
• 6 Harselle (Morgan)
• 5 Pelham
• 6 Harselle (Morgan)
• 7 Auburn
• 8 Muscle Shoals
• 9 Calera
• 10 Prattville
Source: NerdWallet
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first in an occasional series spotlighting the unique qualities of towns of the River Region area.
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