Acity grows or stagnates for various reasons. “Boom towns” grew up and collapsed based on the discovery of, for example, precious metals, such as gold. Often, when mines or oil wells ran dry, towns dried up and blew away, because gold or oil provided their only reason to exist. A But some towns came into existence for more diverse reasons. In this area, being a hub for agricultural commerce helped towns grow, with meat and grain being shipped along the Missouri River. Then, along came the railroads, another source for shipping agricultural products. Having a solid economic base attracted people who built supporting businesses and industries, which led to expanded places to live and worship. Added together, the diversification of the economy meant that if one sector slipped or disappeared, others remained, and those towns survived. The tipping point for a community’s survival often is determined by whether leaders can direct the future toward positive outcomes. They have to seek the…