I grew up in a town of 350 souls, now 1200, but everyone knew the news except the one making it, they were always the last to know. Little towns are great, and when the town is isolated from roads, everyone does know everyone, very well. Alaskans in small towns are pretty tightly knit.
Well I live in Fairbanks AK and even that city everybody know everybody but I live in early 1990s where Fairbanks really growing into tourist trap LOL!