There is no blueprint for a Strong Town. The policies that define one aren’t conservative or liberal. A great city doesn’t have to be a certain size or age. What we wanted to see is that the places you advocated for are taking seriously the need to plan for future resilience by sweating the small stuff. That you’re making a #ChaoticButSmart mix of the right investments now—investments in such things as a thriving and unique local business culture; lively, safe streets; and neighborhoods which can provide every generation a good home. We wanted to see places that embrace the bottom-up energy and brilliance of their citizens. And boy, did our contestants deliver.

Among the entrants, we had a city of 80,000 that’s busy approving new skyscrapers to get the biggest possible benefit out of its frequent train service to one of the world’s great urban centers. But we also had a town of 150 whose deeply involved citizens and local businesses could boast a list of grassroots civic improvement projects that would be the envy of places 20 times larger.

We became acquainted with a mountain paradise whose leaders are proactive about every aspect of future resilience, from affordable housing to wildfire preparedness. We learned about a historic waterfront town that has bucked the trend in its fast-growing suburban region by doubling down on its narrow streets, old-growth trees, and eclectic building pattern as assets.

Today, we're ready to announce the winner.

The final match-up featured two port cities with 400-year histories: Pensacola, Florida and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In the end, the winner edged out a victory by a margin of 58% to 42%.

We're pleased to announce the winner of this year's Contest: Pensacola, Florida!

Pensacola, Florida joins a pantheon of winners that includes Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Traverse City, Michigan; and most recently, 2018’s champion, Muskegon, Michigan. Pensacola is the first champion from the South, and we are proud to welcome them to the ranks.