Small cities in US Rust belt are leading an urban transformation charge

After empty streets and ruined economies, cities try to write a new chapter with new apartments, breweries and thriving arts scenes

Life in Evansville, Indiana, during the 20th century mirrored much of the rest of the US's industrial midwest: booming growth powered by manufacturing in the early decades - then a steep decline that left its streets empty and economy in practical ruins.

Since its heyday as an industrial powerhouse in the 1960s, Evansville's population has fallen by 18%.