Oceanside, California, like many costal California cities, has the climate and beautiful ocean beaches to attract scores of tourists as well as year-round residents. Oceanside has a population of 183,000 and is part of the Tri-city area including Vista and Carlsbad as well as the 3rd largest city in San Diego County. Originally comprised of mostly residential settlements, the city has evolved into a thriving and diverse economy, and is the home of many large corporations, such as Genica Corporation (geeks.com). It is also directly south of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton.

The city of Augusta, Georgia, also known as Augusta-Richmond County, is the main city located in the area that makes up the Augusta-Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the second-largest metro area in the State of Georgia. The city is home to a number of historic districts, dating back before the civil war. These districts include the downtown historic district, the Greene Street historic district, the Summerville historic district and the Sands Hill historic district, among others.

Amarillo is the county seat of Potter County in the State of Texas, although part of the city extends beyond Potter County and into Harris County. Also known as the Yellow Rose of Texas, Amarillo is the regional economic center of the Texas Panhandle. Meat packaging plays a major role in Amarillo’s economy and the city is home to the headquarters of Texas Cattle Feeders Association. Amarillo is also rich in the history of the Old West and features a variety of museums and events that honor the culture of the city’s earlier days.

With a population of just under 200,000, Akron, Ohio is the fifth largest city in Ohio. It is situated roughly 40 miles to the south of Lake Erie on the Little Cuyahoga River. If the metropolitan area is included, the population is over 700,000.

Brownsville occupies the southern-most point in the state of Texas, and is seated on the Rio Grande, the boundary between the United States and Mexico. Although it’s only the 16th largest city in the state, it is part of the 4th largest metropolitan area which includes the city Matamoros, directly across the border. The city’s growth skyrocketed in the 1900s with the rise of the steel industry in the area. Since then, the Port of Brownsville has become the major economical factor as a center for international shipping.

Grand Prairie, Texas, is a city of 175,000 and a suburb of not one but two major Texas cities – Dallas and Fort Worth. As a large city in a border state, Grand Prairie’s highest ethnicity is Hispanic, at 42% of the population. It is the home of several major military-related manufacturers, including Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Poly-America, Bell Helicopter-Textron, and Vought Aircraft Industries. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also operates a large office complex in Grand Prairie.

Little Rock is the capitol of the State of Arkansas. Once inhabited by Native Americans, Little Rock is now home to a number of flourishing communities and businesses. Some of the major corporations who have made Little Rock home to their corporate headquarters include Bank of the Ozarks, Metropolitan National Bank, Dillard’s and Acxiom. Little Rock is also home to a number of museums including the Arkansas Arts Center, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

Fontana is a city located in San Bernardino County in the State of California. The city is known for its cultural offerings, such as the innovative library system, the historic theater and a variety of municipal parks. Fontana’s economy is driven primarily by the trucking industry and the city serves as a hub for many truck dealerships and industrial equipment centers.