Local community facts for kids

A local community is a group of people who live in the same area. These groups often share common ideas and values. They are larger than just one family or household.

The word "community" comes from an old French word, "communité." This word came from the Latin word "communitas." It means "with" or "together" and "gift," referring to a group of people working together.

A sense of community means how people feel connected within their group. It includes sharing responsibilities and having common goals.

Benefits of a Local Community

The writer Robert Putnam talks about something called "social capital." This is the value that comes from people's social networks. He wrote in his book Bowling Alone that social capital "makes an enormous difference in our lives." He believes that if people don't have strong social connections, economic success would be much smaller.

Jobs and Connections

Putnam found that many studies show people are happier at work if they have friends there. He wrote that "people with friends at work are happier at work." He also said that "social networks provide people with advice, a bonus, a promotion, and other strategic information, and letters of recommendation."

Being involved in your community can help reduce problems linked to poverty. Also, strong social connections have been shown to lower crime rates.

Community and Health

Robert Putnam states, "Social connectedness matters to our lives in the most profound way."

In his book Bowling Alone, Putnam explains that recent research shows social connections affect all parts of human health. This includes both mental and physical health. Putnam says "beyond a doubt that social connectedness is one of the most powerful determinates of our well being." He notes that face-to-face connections have a bigger impact than online relationships.

Having good social relationships can make you less likely to get sick. This includes seasonal viruses, heart attacks, strokes, and even depression. It can also help prevent early death.

There are online projects that aim to improve local communities. One example is LOCAL (www.localchange.com).

Local Economy

The Sustain South Sound organization in Washington state lists ten good reasons to buy locally:

1. Strengthen your local economy: When you buy from local businesses, more money stays in your community.
2. Create more jobs: Small local businesses are the biggest employers in the United States. They create many jobs for people in your area.
3. Help local prosperity: Supporting local businesses helps your whole community become more successful.
4. Reduce environmental impact: Local products don't travel as far. This means less pollution from transportation. It helps reduce greenhouse gases and protect natural habitats.
5. Support community groups: Local businesses often give money to local charities and school groups.
6. Keep your community unique: The places where we shop, eat, and have fun make our community special. Local businesses help keep that unique feeling.
7. Get better service: Local business owners often know their products well. They also take more time to get to know their customers.
8. Invest in your community: Local businesses are usually owned by people who live in the community. They are more likely to stay and care about the future of the area.
9. Use your taxes wisely: Local businesses in town centers often need less public money for roads and services. They use public services more efficiently than large national stores.
10. Buy what you want: Many small businesses offer a wider range of products. They choose items based on what local customers need, not just national sales plans.

• A Guide to Community Visioning; Hands-On Information For Local Communities. Oregon Visions Project.

Related pages

• Municipality
• Population

See also

In Spanish: Comunidad local para niños