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The Intelligent Community Forum named the world’ s Smart21 Communities of 2014. This year the Smart21 is comprised of six communities from Canada, four from both Australia and the United States, three from Taiwan and one each from Kenya, Greece, Brazil and New Zealand. The communities range in size from 15,000 people in Mitchell, USA to more than six million in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
15 of the communities are returning to the Smart21 list while Coffs Harbour, Montreal, Nairobi County, Parkland County, Sunshine Coast and Walla Walla are making a first time appearance.
Once again the cities and towns on the Smart21 list have impressed us with their ability to use innovative ideas, broadband resources and hard work to improve local economic and social conditions,
said Intelligent Community co- founder Louis Zacharilla.
Not surprisingly, there are many repeats on the list, which means that continuous and sustained improvements are taking place. Building great communities is a long process.
Intelligent Community Forum Smart21 Communities for 2014
| Community | Country | Population |
| Arlington County, Virginia | USA | 210,300 |
| Coffs Harbour, New South Wales | Australia | 70,900 |
| Columbus, Ohio | USA | 809,800 |
| Heraklion, Crete | Greece | 150,000 |
| Hsinchu City | Taiwan | 427,000 |
| Kingston, Ontario | Canada | 159,500 |
| Mitchell, South Dakota | USA | 15,000 |
| Montreal Metropolitan Area, Quebec | Canada | 3,957,700 |
| Nairobi County | Kenya | 4,000,000 |
| New Taipei City | Taiwan | 3,949,800 |
| Parkland County, Alberta | Canada | 30,500 |
| Prospect, South Australia | Australia | 20,000 |
| Quebec City, Quebec | Canada | 728,900 |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 6,323,000 |
| Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Australia | 322,600 |
| Taoyuan County | Taiwan | 2,038,000 |
| Toronto, Ontario | Canada | 2,791,000 |
| Walla Walla Washington | USA | 31,900 |
| Wanganui | New Zealand | 43,000 |
| Whittlesea, Victoria | Australia | 176,500 |
| Winnipeg | Canada | 778,400 |
The new Smart21 Communities of 2014 will next provide more detailed data, which is evaluated by an independent research firm. The seven highest-scoring cities or regions will then be named the Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year, in January 2014 in Taichung City, Taiwan, the reigning Intelligent Community of the Year. In June of 2014, at an event in New York City, one community will be chosen to succeed Taichung City, as the 2014 Intelligent Community of the Year.
More info
Intelligent Community Forum – 2014 Smart21 Communities