Poster: "The Loveliest Village on the Plain"
The setting of Auburn, Alabama contains multitudes. On one hand, the story of the agricultural southeastern United States is one of peace and charm. Rich southern families lived on large plantations. They were surrounded by fields of grass, cotton, and tobacco. This gave them a life of tranquility and comfortability. Many people desire this type of lifestyle. The urge to return to that lifestyle still lingers throughout the South today. Communities in the South, like Auburn, are always searching for ways to keep this same feeling. On the other hand, this town is the center for a vibrant student life. Students flock to the open, grassy quad in the middle of campus to search for some rest in between classes. Sorority sisters and fraternity brothers lounge on rocking chairs on wrap-around porches. Traditions are invented and kept alive by the community, even when they don’t know their origins. “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith captures the feeling of peace and quiet through his use of natural imagery throughout the poem.
Both Auburn University and the town of Auburn get their names from this poem by Goldsmith. The college changed its name to 'Auburn University' in 1959 after over 100 years of educating students. Unlike the college, the town of Auburn has always had the name that comes from Goldsmith's poem. However, most students, educators, and community members may not have ever read this poem. Even though some may not have heard of this poem, its legacy carries on through the lives of the people who live here. Students and families come to Auburn to search for neighbors and friends who share the same love of Auburn and the traditions that happen here. However, this poem focuses on more than just the bright side of a town like Auburn. "The Deserted Village" warns of the downside of a town growing too big too quickly. Goldsmith brings up an even more interesting point in his writing. The lush green fields and calm scenes of a quiet Southern town with lots of potential can have some downsides.
“The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith serves as a namesake for our university and the town that our students have come to know and love. It's also a warning. This poem warns that there are dangers of urban growth. The people that live in and love Auburn, even if they don't know this poem, are always participating in its traditions and creating new ones.
-Megan Andrews
Primary Sources:
- Auburn University. The Glomerata. Auburn University Digital Library. Vol. 63. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn University, 1960. https://content.lib.auburn.edu/digital/collection/gloms/id/46585/rec/28.
- Auburn University Archives. “1890s-1900s: View south from Main Building.” Photograph. Auburn, Alabama, 1890s. [or 1900s] From Auburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. https://content.lib.auburn.edu/digital/collection/village/id/232/rec/17 (accessed March 30, 2026).
- Goldsmith, Oliver. “The Deserted Village.” The Poetry Foundation, 1770. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44292/the-deserted-village.
View South from Main Building
| Photograph that shows the landscape of Auburn in the late 19th century |
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Poem by Oliver Goldsmith, where Auburn gets its name from<br />
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<br />](https://omeka.lib.auburn.edu/files/fullsize/40fdadad69c07a65f921f5c84dbe6e85.jpg ""The Deserted Village"")
"The Deserted Village"
| Poem by Oliver Goldsmith, where Auburn gets its name from |
1960 Glomerata Title Page
| This title page of the 1960 edition of The Glomerata describes the name change from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute to Auburn University. |