Main Street

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Metonym and urban planning concept

• Primary Regions

  United States, Canada, Ireland, Scotland

• Symbolic Contrast

  Wall Street

• Economic Challenges

  Inflation, deficit spending, and asset bubbles from Quantitative Easing

• Alternative Term (UK)

  High Street

• Proposed Support Program

  Trump Accounts ($1,000 investment at birth)

• Alternative Term (Germany)

  Hauptstraße

Timeline

• Main Street was commonly invoked as a symbol of the dullness of provincial life. (Source: Web Search (A Short History of the Idea of 'Main Street' in America))

  1920-01-01

• The concept shifted to represent the bedrock of American democracy. (Source: Web Search (A Short History of the Idea of 'Main Street' in America))

  1930-01-01

• Main Street emerged as a significant concept in the field of urban studies. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1950-01-01

• City leaders broke ground on the DeBary Main Street project, a mixed-use development in Florida. (Source: Web Search (DeBary Main Street / TOD))

  2024-01-24

• Designated as a year for 'setting the table' for economic recovery by the Trump Administration. (Source: Document 514d8ad8-2026-4107-9514-1e7e61217d6e)

  2025-01-01

• Forecasted year for a strong Main Street recovery driven by a capital expenditure boom and tax cuts. (Source: Document 514d8ad8-2026-4107-9514-1e7e61217d6e)

  2026-01-01

Main Street

Main Street is a metonym used to denote a primary retail street of a village, town or small city in many parts of the world. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in the central business district, and is most often used in reference to retailing, socializing, and the place to go to find "common" concerns. The term is commonly used in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Canada, and less often in Australia and New Zealand. In the non-Scottish regions of the United Kingdom, the common description is High Street, though "Fore Street" or "Front Street" is commonplace in some parts. In Jamaica the term is Front Street. In the 1950s awareness about the 'main street' as a concept of its own importance emerged in the urban studies field, attaining the attention in the theoretical discussions of postmodern urban design, neo-traditional planning and meta-urbanism. In many places, the street name for such a street is actually "Main Street", though even where it isn't the actual name, "main street" is still used to describe the main thoroughfare of the central business district. The "Main Street of America" branding was used to promote U.S. Route 66 in its heyday.

Web Search Results

• Main Street

  Main Street is the place/road name used in many suburbs, towns, and villages in Ireland. For example, the OSI North Leinster Town Maps book lists sixteen Main Streets and only two High Streets in its thirty-town index of street names. Similarly, the OSI Dublin Street Guide, which covers all of Dublin City and County Dublin, lists twenty Main Streets and only two High Streets. Killarney and Galway are two of the few Irish towns in which the term High Street is used instead of Main Street. Recent [...] In Germany, the Hauptstraße (literally "Main Street") is a highly trafficked street. Hauptstraßen even have formal recognition in road construction guidelines, which specify the width of lanes, for example. The term chiefly refers to motorized traffic, whereas Einkaufsstraße (shopping street) or Fußgängerzone (pedestrian district) correspond better to the retail sense of a main street. [...] Main street (Hungarian: Főutca, literally "Principal Street") in Budapest, Hungary (by Antal Berkes) Main Street in Chesterton, Indiana Main Street, Belfast, Maine Elm Street, Manchester, New Hampshire, is the "main street" of the downtown central business district. Baylis Street, the Main Street of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales The Main Street of Cullinan, South Africa

• NEW ORLEANS MAIN STREET RESILIENCE PLAN

  team developed the following criteria to identify existing and potential corridors as Main Streets:  A Main Street is a contiguous, distinct linear street that is not in a large commercial district. A commercial district has many commercial corridors running through it that function together as a shopping and business destination. Examples of commercial districts in New Orleans are the French Quarter or Central Business District. A Main Street is separated from other surrounding streets as a [...] Main Street Resilience Plan 2 What Are “Main Streets”? “Main Street,” as a term, is used to describe many things, from community hubs to local economies. Main Street® is also a program by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This national network provides a framework for local organizations to revitalize commercial corridors and districts of all scales, from small towns to big cities. The State of Louisiana also maintains a coordinating [...] commercial corridor.  A Main Street uses the majority of ground floor area for commercial use. The ground floor is where most patronage and pedestrian activity occurs. Main Streets are characterized by clusters of commercial activity, as opposed to an occasional commercial use in an otherwise residential block. Main Streets may also include mixed-use buildings, with residential or office uses on the upper floors, if the ground floor is commercial.  A Main Street hosts diverse commercial

• Home - Main Street Miami Lakes

  Main Street, the social hub for Miami Lakes and the surrounding community, is comprised of restaurants, retail shops, apartments, offices, Miami Lakes Hotel on Main, CMX Theaters, and civic facilities, including the Town of Miami Lakes’ Government Center. Developed by The Graham Companies, Main Street has been recognized in many national publications, including both academic writings and business articles for being in the forefront of mix-use development. Follow on Instagram [...] Main Street, the social hub for Miami Lakes and the surrounding community, is comprised of restaurants, retail shops, apartments, offices, Miami Lakes Hotel on Main, CMX Theaters, Main Street Playhouse, and civic facilities, including the Town of Miami Lakes’ Government Center. Developed by The Graham Companies, Main Street has been recognized in many national publications, including both academic writings and business articles for being in the forefront of mix-use development…. Read More

• A Short History of the Idea of 'Main Street' in America

  Main Street’s meaning could change quickly. In the 1920s, to invoke Main Street was to call up an image of the dullness of provincial life. By the 1930s, Main Street represented the bedrock of America’s embattled democracy. For decades, Main Street stood for the local; today it’s an importable model of planning and development that can be set up almost anywhere. [...] If Main Street means anything today, it signifies an idealized space where American society can practice its highest values, which include civility, tolerance, and yes, commerce. And Main Street’s endurance, as an idea, demonstrates the authority of myth to nurture a sense of community, even in a society as fragmented as ours. [...] It is the self-consciousness of the idea of Main Street—from its origins in a Nathaniel Hawthorne sketch of New England, to Walt Disney’s construction of a Main Street USA, to the establishment of ersatz Main Streets in today’s urban malls—that makes it so essentially American. Main Street has been used in myriad ways to describe very many different things—from the crushing power of convention to the thrill of new entertainment, from the small town to new big city neighborhoods.

• DeBary Main Street / TOD

  DeBary's future Main Street embodies the essence of community, convenience, and culture. With a strategic location, thoughtful development phases, and a commitment to preserving the quality of life, this project promises to enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike. As DeBary evolves and grows, Main Street will stand as a testament to progress that respects its roots. Join us in shaping a dynamic future where connections flourish, amenities abound, and the heart of the city beats [...] We're thrilled to introduce you to the future gem of our city, DeBary Main Street – a vibrant mixed-use development owned and developed by Mosaic. Nestled adjacent to the SunRail Station and along the Central Florida Trail System, DeBary Main Street is poised to be the hub of connectivity, entertainment, and urban living. On January 24, 2024, city leaders broke ground on the new Main Street project, a first-of-its-kind for the city. Check out the Main Street Ground Breaking highlight video. [...] DeBary Main Street's location offers residents access to various outdoor activities within a mile's radius. From kayak launches and disc golf courses to fishing piers and biking trails, there's no shortage of recreational options. Within the next few years, Alexander Island Park will open nearly one mile away from Main Street, and a paved biking trail will connect the 170-acre park to stores and restaurants on main Street (Learn more about Alexander Island). Main Street is also strategically