NATCHEZ — At the closing of the polls, Natchez is No. 6 on USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice list for 2019 for Best Historic Small Town in the nation.

“This historic Mississippi-River town of Natchez is home to stunning antebellum homes and staggering slave-trade history,” USA Today stated, “both of which make it a riveting small town destination for visitors, Civil War buffs in particular. Tours of historic homes and carriage rides allow guests to drink in the town’s many stories as they admire the beautifully preserved architecture. Wonderful local restaurants and taverns allow for both drinking and eating — and in many cases, live music, as well.”

Granbury, Texas came in first place, followed by Mackinac Island, Mich.; Angola, Ind.; Clarksdale, Miss. and Williamsburg, Va.

Destinations succeeding Natchez in the Top 10 list included Natchitoches, La.; Abilene, Kan.; St. Augustine, Fla. and Haddonfield, N.J.

USA Today partnered with 10Best editors to select a panel of experts on travel topics, including Marla Cimini, Deborah Fallows, Eric Grossman, Anna Hider and Gerrish Lopez, who then selected the initial 20 nominees for Best Historic Small Town, and the top 10 winners were determined by the public’s popular vote.

Jennifer Combs, Executive Director of Visit Natchez and the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission said she and her staff are thrilled by the results and grateful to everyone who voted.

“We are thrilled,” Combs said. “Of course we all know Natchez is No. 1 and there’s no doubt about it, but we’re thrilled to be in the top 10. We’re grateful to USA Today and to everybody that voted religiously every single day over every single device. … We were up against some stiff competition … and it’s really our community and our friends across the country and across the world who voted that helped keep us in the Top 10.”