“Those of us who live and work here already know and appreciate the simple beauty, the relaxed friendliness, the abundant nature, and the bustling commerce that defines our City. It’s refreshing to be recognized, on a consistent basis, for the many ways that residents show their appreciation and pride in their homes and neighborhoods,” he said.

The magazine’s editors chose Murphy as seventh best suburb this year, two spaces up from last year’s ninth place finish. Since the inception of the list, Murphy is one of only six suburbs of the more than 60 considered to place in the Top Ten every year.

“Our various Councils, our staff, our residents, our business-owners, and even our visitors all exhibit a sense of esteem and reverence for this relatively small parcel of land we call home,” he added.

Indeed, the residents of the City deemed nature and its attendant beauty so important that in 2008 a bond election that focused on parks and trails was passed overwhelmingly. Today, a number of parks, trails systems, nature preserves, creek beds and other outdoor settings are already in use after being constructed or refurbished, others are soon to be completed, and the signature Murphy Central Park is in its final stages of planning.

Business activity has been steadily picking up even as the City has made inroads in preserving its long and illustrious history through the renovating of its landmark building, the original Murphy School.

“The reasons Murphy makes the list year after year are many, and for each resident, those reasons are unique and different. There are, truly, as many good reasons to live here as there are people who do,” said Fisher.