A recent study by OnDeck identified Midland as the leading Texas city for community support of local small businesses based on social media activity tied to shopping local campaigns.
The analysis, released during National Small Business Month in May, reviewed Instagram posts using the hashtags #shoplocal and #shopsmall across nearly 500 major U.S. cities. Researchers measured the number of hashtagged posts per 100,000 residents to evaluate local engagement with small business shopping initiatives.
According to the study, Midland recorded 14,198 posts per 100,000 residents, the highest rate among Texas cities included in the analysis. Researchers noted that shopping locally can help strengthen regional economies by keeping spending within the community and supporting independent businesses.
Other Texas cities ranking highly in the study included Tyler, Amarillo, Dallas and Austin. Dallas recorded 5,784 posts per 100,000 residents, placing fourth statewide in the rankings.
The report highlighted growing consumer interest in supporting local retailers, restaurants and small businesses through community-focused shopping efforts and social media engagement.