Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, 30 miles east of the Mississippi state line, the city of Winfield offers all the amenities of small town living - and more: one of the best public education systems in the state, excellent health care, a strong small business sector, an expanding industrial base, and plenty of recreational opportunities.

The Hospital
Northwest Medical Center is a 71-bed JCAHO-accredited hospital, licensed by the Alabama State Department of Health. The hospital facility, which was expanded in 1998 with the addition of a three-story patient bed tower, serves approximately 3,500 inpatients and 60,000 outpatients annually, and offers a full range of specialized services. The hospital campus features a state-of-the-art Wellness Reha-bilitation Facility (below), Regional Cancer Center, Physician Office Buildings and a fully-operative on-site Ambulance Service. Over 40 privately practicing physicians treat and refer patients to the hospital, with 20 physicians and numerous nurse practitioners practicing full time in the area.

The Community
Downtown Winfield offers a multitude of shopping and cultural opportunities. For example, the Harris Building, the oldest in the city, is now home to a thriving antique mall. And the recently renovated Pastime Theater hosts a Commu-nity Concert Series as well as many other cultural events. The city of Winfield has one of the top school districts in Alabama. Typically, 1,200 students are enrolled in the system's elementary school (grades K-4), middle school (grades 5-8), high school (grade 9-12) and vocational school. The school system offers Head Start Programs, Enrichment Programs, Services for Special Needs Students, Honor Courses and Advanced Placement Classes. A new $14 million high school, now under construction, will feature a state-of-the-art multimedia center and computer room. The teaching staff is highly qualified. Every educator is certified in their major area of study, and 75% of the faculty have a masters degree and professional training beyond the masters level.

Recreation
Northwest Alabama offers plenty of recreational opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. Lewis Smith Lake is. an Alabama treasure, a 21,200-acre fishing paradise with deep, clear blue water and 500-plus miles of shoreline. The nearby Sipsey Wilderness Area, one of only two such areas in the state, offers hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and horseback riding. It is the third largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River, covering over 25,000 acres. Close to home, the city's 60-acre Ivan K. Hill Park has four baseball fields, two softball fields, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. One of the biggest events of the year is Mule Day, held on the fourth Saturday of each September. Listed by Travel and Tourism magazine as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast, Mule Day attracts more than 25,000 people each year with its variety of family-friendly activities: a Mule Day Parade, Mule Judging, Car Show, Flea Market, Duck Race, Arts and Crafts, and the Annual Bake-n-Auction. Hands-on activities include soap making, muzzle loading, candle making, a blacksmith shop, storytelling, basket making and more. A recent addition to Mule Day is a Civil War reenactment that includes a living history demonstration and a Civil War Ball.