The small Kansas town that was nearly wiped off the map in 2007 is now up for the title of America’s Coolest Small Town. Greensburg was selected as one of 20 finalist in Budget Travel’s new contest.

Greensburg, Kans. (Pop. 1,200)
Around 9:30 p.m. on May 4, 2007, a category EF5 tornado—the strongest designation twisters can receive—ripped through the tiny town of Greensburg and leveled everything in its path. Winds reached 205 mph, destroyed 95 percent of Greensburg’s buildings, and severely damaged the remaining 5 percent. That kind of destruction would be enough to knock most towns off the map. But in Greensburg, locals in the tight-knit community dug their heels in and immediately set to work rebuilding their beloved hometown. The city council voted to rebuild all structures according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards, making Greensburg the first town in the U.S. to do so—and effectively creating a new model for green, small-town redevelopment. And its environmental strides even encompass the arts: Greensburg’s 5.4.7 Arts Center, the only public art museum between Wichita and Dodge City, is entirely solar- and wind-powered.the city council voted to rebuild all structures according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards, making Greensburg the first town in the U.S. to do so—and effectively creating a new model for green, small-town redevelopment. And its environmental strides even encompass the arts: Greensburg’s 5.4.7 Arts Center, the only public art museum between Wichita and Dodge City, is entirely solar- and wind-powered.

Voting ends February 11th and the winner will be featured in the September ’11 issue of Budget Travel. To cast your vote CLICK HERE.