Community spirit matters.

That’s just one of the reasons Charles Anderson gave for moving Andalusia higher up on his In Search of Eden list of the top small cities in America.

Anderson is a retired high school geography and civics teacher who spent more than 50 years researching his list, which he released in January with Andalusia listed at No. 49, higher than any other city in Alabama. Last week, he notified The Star-News that he has had reason to revise the list, and has moved the city to No. 44.

“You have replaced Livingston Montana at No. 44, as I decided that they had a bit too much wind during the coldest months,” Anderson wrote.

Andalusians’ embrace of the designation also contributed to the move, Anderson said.