The Center for the Small City (CSC) at UW-Stevens Point researches topics pertaining to small cities, provides consultation services to local governments and community organizations, and collects and disseminates information related to micropolitan areas. The center’s purpose is to organize conferences and workshops on relevant topics for the university community, local government officials, community leaders, and the general public.
Biennial National Conference
The CSC sponsors a biennial national conference that brings academics, small city elected officials and staff together to discuss the development, needs, and problems affecting small cities. From these national conferences, the center publishes Proceedings: Small City and Regional Community, now available in 14 volumes.
Past Proceeding Volumes Past ConferencesThe conference is held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point every fourth year. In other years, the conference meets at different locations. In recent years, the conference has been held at the University of Louisville, Western Michigan University, and Illinois State. Each conference has a theme in addition to panels on a wide range of issues important to small cities.

Sustainable and Resilient Communities Series
The Center for the Small City and the Department of Geography and Geology within the College of Letters and Science hosted four public events on sustainability challenges in urban planning, climate resilience, natural resource management, and energy policy. The Sustainable and Resilient Communities 2023-2024 was sponsored by the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.
In the News
- UW-Stevens Point instructor introduces students to careers in GIS
- Student research making history come to life with GIS
- UW-Stevens Point lecture series will focus on sustainable and resilient communities
Our History
Established by UW-Stevens Point and the UW System in 1979, the Center for the Small City, a division within the College of Letters and Science, focuses on small cities, towns, and rural areas within micropolitan areas, (settlements with fewer than 50,000 people.)
UW-Stevens Point Center for the Small City
B307A Science Building
2001 Fourth Avenue, Stevens Point, WI
Contacts:
Ismaila Odogba
Professor, Dept. of Geography and Geology
ismaila.odogba@uwsp.edu
Bob Wolensky
Professor Emeritus
rwolensk@uwsp.edu