Consolidated school districts are replacing downtown schools with regional facilities outside of town. Most kids need to be bused from afar, wasting resources and time, and ensuring they have no natural place to gather after school. Meanwhile, even our neighborhood schools are closed and shuttered at night, with the activity fields fenced and gates locked tight. Smart merchants began by setting up on the corner of the crossroads to double their business. The action started at the crossroads.
Many communities have their roots in transportation or commerce.
A crossroads, a river junction, a railroad, or a protected harbor provided both customers and a focal point for development. Often the first building in town was at the corner of that crossroads. If you couldn't buy something there, you just plain didn't need it. Early builders followed patterns they knew from other places that worked. The important public buildings were built surrounding this gathering place.