Today Google announced the names of the first few municipalities across the United States that have taken advantage of its 3-D tools to create 3-D models of their own cities within Google Earth. This means if you use Google Earth, you can view a 3-D version of these towns, complete with buildings.Google unveiled its Cities in 3-D program several months ago. The idea was to give local governments the opportunity to enhance how their town looks to users of Google Earth. With the tools, "local governments can now better engage the public with land-use planning and redevelopment while fostering economic development. Enabling virtual tourism can also boost travel to these areas, as tourists can now appreciate what the cities have to offer and can easily preview their destination."

A number of towns decided to give it a go, including: Amherst, Mass.; District of Columbia; Greenville, S.C.; Jamestown, N.Y.; McMinnville, Tenn.; and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, Tenn.

If you'd like to take a gander at what its all about, you have to switch the "3-D Buildings" layer on in Google Earth 4.3. Then just fly on over to one of the towns listed above.

According to the press release from Google, the idea here is to make "information that was previously confined to government mapping professionals available to the general public through the rich, interactive environment provided by Google Earth."

Pau Ney, director of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development in Nashville, Tenn., is very excited about the project. He said, "Having 3-D models of our city available via Google will provide a convenient, cutting-edge showcase for all our city has to offer, including our neighborhoods, business districts, and recreational, cultural, and entertainment amenities. This is a tool that will undoubtedly contribute to our economic development success."

I took a look at the 3-D model of Washington, D.C. It really is a cool way to to look at the town, and gives you a whole different perspective for how things are mapped out on the ground.