Main Street | Vpedia - Empowering knowledge sharing

Main Street is a metonym used to denote a primary retail street of a village, town or small city in many parts of the world. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in the central business district, and is most often used in reference to retailing, socializing, and the place to go to find 'common' concerns. The term is commonly used in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Canada, and less often in Australia and New Zealand. The concept of Main Street has evolved over time, influenced by urban studies, postmodern urban design, neo-traditional planning, and meta-urbanism. Today, Main Street is a symbol of community and local identity, with many cities and towns working to revitalize and preserve their historic main streets. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has launched initiatives to support main street preservation. The National Main Street Center provides resources and support for main street programs, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance offers guidance on how to create and maintain thriving main streets.