Independence is one of those towns that just feels like home. The famous Neewollah Festival takes place every fall—it takes over downtown with parades, carnival rides, live music, and all the small-town fun you can imagine. On a quieter day, you can head out to Elk City Lake or take the kids to Riverside Park and the zoo (fun fact: it was once home to the first monkey in space!). There’s always something happening here—local ball games, community events, a great farmers market, and small businesses that know you by name. It’s the kind of place where people wave when they pass you on the road—and mean it.