By DANI BLACKBURN

Many choose small-town life for the lower crime rates, a sense of community, lower cost of living and quiet atmosphere.

But the lack of job opportunities in a smaller town can be frustrating for residents, leading many to commute outside of their hometown.

The American Community Survey released in 2013 by the United States Census Bureau found roughly 38 million Americans commute outside their home county to their jobs every day, an 18 percent increase from 1980.

The census in 2010 found here in North Texas more than eight percent of the workforce travels at least 60 minutes each way to work.

Bowie creates a unique opportunity to enjoy small-town life with an easy commute due to six major highways intersecting the town, including U.S. Highway 287 that offers quick access to Wichita Falls and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. With the number of workers choosing to commute to work on the rise, that is a huge benefit for the city.

Janis Crawley, executive director of the Bowie Economic Development Center, said the largest asset Bowie has is its access to U.S. Highway 287.

“A lot of companies, like Peterbilt and Lockheed Martin, make it convenient to live in rural areas,” said Crawley. “They know they need to reach out beyond their immediate area for employees and provide transportation to and from work. It makes for a safer and more convenient commute for the workers.”

Read the full feature on the location of Bowie as a beneficial asset for the community in your mid-week Bowie News.