Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, shopping center and town green.
Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets, music concerts, political rallies, and other events that require firm ground. Being centrally located, town squares are usually surrounded by small shops such as bakeries, meat markets, cheese stores, and clothing stores. At their center is often a fountain, well, monument, or statue. Many of those with fountains are actually named Fountain Square.
Town squares and corporal punishment
Public judicial punishment traditionally was often conducted in the town square, especially pillory punishments like the stocks, as the point caused embarrassment and humiliation to the subject as well as proved an object lesson for others.
Gallows for public executions and corporal punishments such as whippings were also often located in town squares, either as temporary or permanent setups depending on time and place.
See also
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