Two near-opposite Twin Cities suburbs are among the municipalities across the country duking it out for the coveted title of All-America City.
Columbia Heights, a century-old working-class immigrant city just north of Minneapolis, and Woodbury, a sprawling white-collar suburb in pastoral Washington County, are both finalists for the National Civic League's top honor.
Ten of the competition's 20 finalists will be named winners at the league's annual convention in Denver this June. It's possible that both cities could walk away with the title.
"That would be great for Minnesota," said Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens.
The National Civic League, a nonprofit think tank, has hosted the competition since 1949. It offers mostly bragging rights and a chance to learn from other places; the idea is that cities as different as Columbia Heights and Woodbury can both represent the all-American ideal.
"It's really nice to hear the communities are so different. We do want a diverse group of communities," said Sarah Lipscomb, All-America City program director.
Although they're competing for the same prize, the two communities couldn't be more different by nearly every measure.
Blue collar, white collar
Woodbury, in the midst of a prolonged growth spurt, has created and maintained a sense of community in a suburban landscape, its city leaders boast.