A Small Neighborhood is a Web Community, Too

Argenta was the original name of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Orginally, it was a community of railroad workers and tradesmen, professions that didn't pay quite as much as the hoi polloi of the neighboring city of Little Rock. The original neighborhood of the small town kept its identification as Argenta, even when their town evolved into today's North Little Rock, Arkansas.

It's a small section of town, perhaps twelve streets of turn of the century housing. Thanks to aggressive city planning which began to buy, restore, and then sell refurbished houses, Argenta has been recreated as one of the best places to live in Arkansas. Thankfully, the original homes, some as small as 900 square feet, were restored in a historically correct manner and now, with most homes restored by the city or by owners energized by the transformation, Argenta is as much like Andy's Mayberry as any city you'll find in the real world.

The Argenta Blogger

Argenta has a blogger as a resident who has taken on the role of caretaker of the community. He has created a great blog that acts as the town crier. Argenta is a small place, bounded by an interstate, a rail yard and an industrial park, just right for a lone blogger with a mission. He patrols his beat with reports on property variances, city news affecting Argenta, and parking violations worthy of note. It is somehow very relaxing to read about small town life and the breaking news of a new farmer's market or holiday gatherings.

The website has cornered the real estate advertising for neighborhood. Local homes for sale receive a photo in the real estate section and a glowing report of all the possibilities for restoration (if needed) or the low price of living in one of the finest neighborhoods in America. It's effective, homes are generally sold within a few days of being listed on the site, the only method of Advertising on the site. Potential buyers post messages about what kind of property they're seeking on the message board.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference in this blogs is the advertising. Most blogs depend on Ad Sense or other ad management company. This blog has local advertising, almost never seen on a blog, and proof of the blog's important role in connecting with residents.

Visit www.argentanews.com and sit a spell

If the web can create a sense of community, then a community can create a new home on the web.