Overview
Located on a strip of big-box stores near the intersection of Highways 89 and 91 in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, Walmart offers discounted products in bulk to Upper Valley customers. By supplying a variety of goods produced overseas–primarily in Asia–to shoppers in rural New Hampshire and Vermont, the store reflects a trend of globalization that connects its isolated location with the rest of the world.
The landscape of Walmart demonstrates the importance of foreign products to modern American consumers. With tags reading “Made in China” and “Made in Vietnam” far outnumbering items produced in the United States, the store clearly relies on its connections with cheap overseas producers to bring necessary items to Upper Valley locals at the lowest possible prices. In an area such as the Upper Valley, where many people live in situations of rural poverty (see Exploring Economic Disparities in Vermont), families often reside far from commercial areas and cannot always afford transportation. Therefore, Walmart and Advance Transit provide an essential service to the subset of the Upper Valley population that requires a cheap, one-stop location to shop. The store does not cater exclusively to people living in poverty, however: Its ability to bring such a wide variety of products to a rural area makes Walmart a frequent destination for a diverse group of customers.
An aerial view of West Lebanon from across the Connecticut River, 1889
The trip to Walmart via Advance Transit highlights patterns of development in West Lebanon, where large stores and parking lots have taken over an area historically occupied by farmland.
An aerial view of the strip where Walmart is located, Google Maps 2015
Although the landscape of West Lebanon was primarily agricultural until the mid-20th century, it has since developed into a strip that includes dozens of franchises. The presence of big-box stores in a quiet, rural town demonstrates that even the most isolated Upper Valley communities maintain strong ties with a system of global production.
Advance Transit
To access Walmart via Advance Transit, begin by taking the Orange line bus in front of the Hanover Inn to West Lebanon. Once you reach the Kilton Library, take the Red line bus that says “Plaza.” Get down at the bus stop right in front of Walmart. For timetables and more information about the different routes that you can take in order to get to Walmart and around the Upper Valley, visit the Advance Transit website.
When you enter the bus near the south end of campus, you will begin a circuitous route around Dartmouth, during which the bus stops at locations including Steele Hall, the McLaughlin Cluster, and Webster Avenue. On these stops, notice the people getting on and off the bus. The vast majority of passengers at this point will be students and visitors to the college, but as soon as the bus enters downtown Hanover, you will begin to see more adults and older workers.
As you leave Hanover, you may start to realize that most Advance Transit riders are familiar with the system and with one another. Near the front of the bus, it’s not uncommon to see passengers addressing the driver by name and sharing stories about their personal lives. You will also notice that the people who ride the bus know exactly where and when to get off, indicating their familiarity with the system. At this point, think about where the other passengers might be going or coming from. At what types of locations do they get on and off? What items are they carrying? The answers to these questions will change depending on the bus line you’re taking and the time of day.
At West Lebanon, you will switch onto the red line toward “Plaza” and Walmart. Increasing numbers of shoppers will likely enter the bus. You may notice women and families with overflowing bags replacing the workers and Dartmouth-affiliated passengers with whom you previously rode. If you look out the window, you will see the landscape shifting from woods and residential areas to giant stores and parking lots. What might this indicate about the economy of West Lebanon? How does the presence of these stores relate to the bus system and its passengers?
By the time you get to Walmart, your 6-mile journey will have taken 40 minutes and included upwards of 10 stops. On the way out of the bus, note the pamphlets behind the driver’s seat that encourage riders to donate to keep the bus free. These pamphlets are another reminder of the importance of free public transportation to the Upper Valley. The ride to Walmart is certainly inefficient, which makes the bus less appealing to people who can afford their own cars, but it is an essential service to people who can’t. In a rural environment where people live far from the places where they shop and work, Advance Transit makes it much easier for people to move around.
Walmart
Upon entering Walmart, you will first see the clothing section, with large signs emphasizing the “Everyday low prices” that the store has to offer. Make sure to look at some of the tags on the clothing, and reflect on where the goods that consumers purchase on a daily basis actually come from. You will notice that much of the clothing comes from places like China, Cambodia, and Vietnam, all places far removed from West Lebanon, New Hampshire. Observe how a wide variety of clothing is also available, both for children and adults, demonstrating Walmart’s emphasis on family values.
As you walk out of the clothing section, you will see large signs throughout the store that boldly advertise Walmart’s “Everyday low prices.” This emphasis on low prices demonstrates how Walmart takes pride in its image as a corporation that strives to sell goods to those who cannot afford to buy them at specialty stores.
When you exit the clothing section, you will come to a section comprised of televisions, DVDs, and other electronics. Think about where all of these electronics were manufactured and how starkly different they appear from the types of goods you saw in the clothing section. This apparent contrast between the types of goods in different sections of the store represents Walmart’s role as a multipurpose store that sells a variety of goods in order to cater to people’s everyday needs. The variety of goods sold in Walmart is represented in this map of the Walmart in West Lebanon, shown above.
Located in the entertainment section, you will see a section that sells books and DVDs. You may notice that there are several books on hiking available as well as films centered around hiking, a recreational activity that is characteristic of the Upper Valley. Walking towards the back end of the store, you will see that there is an entire section dedicated to hunting and fishing. These recreational activities are common in rural areas throughout the United States, and, therefore, in the rural Upper Valley.
Next, walk into the food section. Try to see if you can find any other products that may be specific to the Upper Valley. One example of a notable regional product that you will see is a large refrigerator in the frozen foods section that is filled with Cabot Cheddar, a product of Vermont and staple of the New England area. It becomes clear that, while Walmart plays a role in globalization, it also aims to cater its products to its consumers regionally.
When heading towards check-out, shift your attention towards the Walmart workers. What are they wearing? What does their uniform say about Walmart as a corporation? When leaving the store, notice the worker who is sitting in a chair at the door and take note of what she says to you. These workers typically exclaim, “Thank you for shopping at Walmart!” How does this greeting shape your perception of Walmart?
As you retrace your steps to ride the bus back to Hanover, watch the landscape transform once again from big stores to homes to a wooded highway to Dartmouth campus. Throughout your trip, you’ve witnessed the relationship between Walmart, Advance Transit, and the Upper Valley, and your observations on the ride home will reveal how the development of big-box stores has shaped West Lebanon and the surrounding area.