ABSTRACT
This chapter looks into the economy of small towns. Several small towns made attracting seniors the prime target of their economic prosperity. Located in Northern Ontario, Canada, halfway between the cities of Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake, population 12,000, is surrounded by more than 4,000 pristine lakes and rivers, magnificent old-growth forests, and dramatic rock escarpments. Two North American towns have selected extraterrestrial fictional activities as a theme to develop a tourist industry around. The town of Vulcan, population 2,000, in the Province of Alberta, Canada, capitalized on its name, made famous by the Star Trek television and feature film series. Tourist stations that display Star Trek memorabilia, a replica of a starship, and host an annual convention are some of its initiatives. A similar initiative took place in Roswell, which over the years claimed national and international name recognition with no monetary investment. The town is associated with mysterious crash landings of UFOs.
