Coastal counties have little economic diversification and the millage rate reflects that tourism is IT. 

Summers are hot in terms of tourism and winters are cold.

My personal opinion that, even through a downturn, the cost of living in Murfreesboro is much more reasonable, when compared to Nashville, and I feel Nashville offers a variety of different businesses/companies (auto/music/healthcare/education/government/tourism) so that it is not dependent on a certain stream of income. 

The most succinct history I've found (there's a lot to unpack) is the walking tour from Cultural Tourism DC https://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/dc-neighborhood-heritage-trailsPrices jumped up just as the Wharf was being completed, but haven't really gone anywhere since then.

I wanted to ask if anyone has had experience renting STR in very small towns that have decent tourism - specifcally Jerome.

If the city you're investing in is heavily dependent on one type of industry (tourism, manufacturing or retail) and the economy turns, you could find quality residents in short supply.

Logistics, Auto, Healthcare, Tech, Transportation, State and local govt, Tourism, Music, Sports, etc.  

Besides that there is the WIPP side, potential for alternative energy, and tourism so I'm feeling good about the economic growth in this region.

Great place to invest for tourism.

This is why it remains one of the world's most popular tourism hotspots.