Idaho is one of those states where, outside of the Boise metro, you know that just about everyone you meet grew up in a small town with a population under 5,000. Or under 500. While outsiders might come in and look at our state’s large expanses of gentle countryside as wasted opportunity, we small-towners like it just the way it is. We also think that quiet, rural life isn’t just the best way to grow up – it’s the only way to grow up.

1. Once a best friend, always a best friend.
Julie/Flickr
Small town friendships are forged over a lifetime... and last a lifetime, too!
2. Everyone knows your name at the local hangout.
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Come in, sit down, and stay awhile. Your usual will be on its way in no time.
3. Going to the mall is a HUGE deal.
Allen/Flickr
There may not be a lot of fancy big-box stores in rural Idaho, but that just makes the small excursions that much better.
4. Crazy stunts (like jumping off of a roof) are to be expected.
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Broken bones and reckless stunts are just a part of growing up!
5. You know everybody in school... and basically the entire county.
Ken Lund/Flickr
Even if you're new, it doesn't take long to meet everybody... and learn who the rivals are.

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6. High school football is EPIC.
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Friday night lights are where it's at! Odds are, the whole town is here, so what better place to build friendships?
7. Dating doesn't require a background check.
Jennifer/Flickr
Your parents went to school together, and you've been in the same class since kindergarten. There's nothing to hide here!
8. It's easy to see from one end of town to the other.
Ken Lund/Flickr
Yep. Just look down Main Street past the one stoplight!
9. The fresh air and solitude are second to none.
James Ellis/Flickr
With so much opportunity for relaxation, small town life is like a never-ending vacation.
10. Quite simply, small town Idaho is just heaven on earth.
Michael Swigart/Flickr
You won't find views like this in an urban subdivision!

What are your favorite memories growing up in small town Idaho? Would you add anything else to this list?

For more nostalgia, here are 15 Ways To Know You Went to a Small Town High School in Idaho.

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