Not everyone comes from one or lives in a small town, but TV shows about small towns permeate our networks. If you think about it, shows like The Simpsons are as much about a small town as they are about an average yellow American family. Because of our fascination with small towns and the strange and interesting people who live in them, small town USA has been a major player in many of our favorite television series across the years.
The best thing about a good TV show featuring a small town is that it can be of any genre imaginable. Whether your interests stray towards horror/romance with shows like True Blood featuring vampires in a small town in Louisiana or you prefer the more grounded comedies like Parks and Recreation, there are plenty of amazing series to enjoy. For more recommendations, browse this list and feel free to add any similar TV shows set small towns you think are missing! And if you love these shows, be sure to check out our list of small town movies.
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41046Virgin River
Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin HendersonPremiered: December 6, 2019
Head on over to our list of other shows like Virgin River!
Virgin River (Netflix, 2019) is an American romance drama web television series, based on the... more
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560101Hart of Dixie
Rachel Bilson, Jaime KingPremiered: 2011
Hart of Dixie (The CW, 2011) is an American comedy-drama television series created by Leila... more3
46974Gilmore Girls
Lauren Graham, Alexis BledelPremiered: 2000
Gilmore Girls (The WB, 2000) is an American comedy-drama television series created by Amy... more4
11214Sweet Magnolias
Jamie Lynn Spears, Anneliese JudgePremiered: 2020
Sweet Magnolias (Netflix, 2020) is a romantic drama television series created by Sheryl J.... more5
18160One Tree Hill
Chad Michael Murray, James LaffertyPremiered: 2003
One Tree Hill (The WB, 2003) is an American drama television series created by Mark Schwahn.... more6
10214Outer Banks
Madison Bailey, Madelyn ClinePremiered: 2020
Outer Banks (Netflix, 2020) is an American drama series created by created by Jonas Pate, Josh... more7
19995The Vampire Diaries
Nina Dobrev, Paul WesleyPremiered: 2009
The Vampire Diaries (The CW, 2009) is an American supernatural teen drama television series... more8
12443Friday Night Lights
Kyle Chandler, Connie BrittonPremiered: 2006
Friday Night Lights (NBC, 2006) is an American sports drama television series developed by... more9
11941Schitt's Creek
Eugene Levy, Catherine O'HaraPremiered: 2015
Schitt's Creek (CBC, 2015) is a Canadian television sitcom created by Eugene Levy and Dan... more10
17386Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David HarbourPremiered: 2016
Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016) is an American science fiction-horror web television series... more11
8420Heartland
Amber Marshall, Graham WardlePremiered: 2007
Heartland (CBC, 2007) is a Canadian family drama television series created by Lauren Brooke,... more12
9849Dawson's Creek
James Van Der Beek, Katie HolmesPremiered: 1998
Dawson's Creek (The WB, 1998) is an American teen drama television series created by Kevin... more13
9043Parks and Recreation
Amy Poehler, Jim O'HeirPremiered: 2009
Parks and Recreation (NBC, 2009) is an American television sitcom created by Greg Daniels and... more14
9446Veronica Mars
Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs IIIPremiered: 2004
Veronica Mars (UPN, 2004) is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by... more15
10557Pretty Little Liars
Troian Bellisario, Ashley BensonPremiered: 2010
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family, 2010) is an American teen drama mystery–thriller television... more16
8440That '70s Show
Topher Grace, Laura PreponPremiered: 1998
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from... more17
8543Everwood
Treat Williams, Gregory SmithPremiered: 2002
Check out other great shows like Everwood!
Everwood (The WB, 2002) is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. A... more18
8041Twin Peaks
Kyle MacLachlan, Russ TamblynPremiered: 1990
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990) is an American mystery horror drama television series created by Mark... more19
6931The Ranch
Ashton Kutcher, Danny MastersonThe Ranch (Netflix, 2016) is an American comedy web television series created by Don Reo and... more20
7031Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson HanniganPremiered: 1997
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB, 1997) is an American supernatural drama television series... more21
6830Northern Exposure
Rob Morrow, Janine TurnerPremiered: 1990
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a... more22
10182Riverdale
KJ Apa, Lili ReinhartPremiered: 2017
Riverdale (The CW, 2017) is an American teen drama television series developed by Roberto... more23
5434The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy CartwrightPremiered: 1989
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting... more24
3312Nancy Drew
Kennedy McMann, Tunji KasimPremiered: 2019
Nancy Drew (The CW, 2019) is an American mystery drama television series based on the titular... more25
5738Smallville
Tom Welling, Michael RosenbaumPremiered: 2001
Smallville is an American television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and... more
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