We all see the small brown sign that reads "Historic Downtown" when we enter most small cities in America. This week I began visiting these cities and meeting locals. Some of these cities are thriving while many are becoming vacant.

Artist Skip McNutt poses for a portrait at his studio in historic downtown Adairsville, Ga.  McNutt is hoping to use his art to bring business to small towns in Northwest Georgia.  If you visit historic downtown Adairsville,  a mural … — Artist Skip McNutt poses for a portrait at his studio in historic downtown Adairsville, Ga. McNutt is hoping to use his art to bring business to small towns in Northwest Georgia. If you visit historic downtown Adairsville, a mural that McNutt and a colleague painted depicting the great locomotive chase is displayed on the old train depot.

Artist Skip McNutt stands outside his studio in historic downtown Adairsville, Ga.  McNutt is hoping to use his art to bring business to small towns in Northwest Georgia.  If you visit historic downtown Adairsville,  a mural that McNu… — Artist Skip McNutt stands outside his studio in historic downtown Adairsville, Ga. McNutt is hoping to use his art to bring business to small towns in Northwest Georgia. If you visit historic downtown Adairsville, a mural that McNutt and a colleague painted depicting the great locomotive chase is displayed on the old train depot.

A Kingston resident walks his dogs past DeSoto Hotel, one of many vacant buildings in downtown Kingston.  Photo by Branden Camp — A Kingston resident walks his dogs past DeSoto Hotel, one of many vacant buildings in downtown Kingston. Photo by Branden Camp

A house sits surrounded by overgrown grass in Kingston Ga.

A cross sits on display inside a cemetery in Kingston, Ga.

A tractor and a utility truck are seen through the windows what used to be a restaurant in downtown Kingston, Ga.

A car drives through a mostly vacant downtown Kingston, Ga.

86-year-old G.B. Hood, who has lived in Kingston his whole life, exits a local convenience store in downtown Kingston, Ga.

86-year-old G.B. Hood, who has lived in Kingston his whole life, is reflected in the doors of a local convenience store in downtown Kingston, Ga.

A sign sits on display in front of a mostly vacant downtown Kingston, Ga.

Kingston, Georgia resident Ronald Lee crosses over the railroad tracks in downtown Kingston, Friday, May 13, 2016. Kingston, like many small American towns, are becoming vacant. Lee says that due to extremely low water pressure, businesses don't have sufficient water pressure to operate their businesses.

Branden Camp | Visual Storyteller

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Small Towns - Personal Project