[Mithadan]

Just noticed this thread.

Bree is unique in several ways. It is very old, perhaps even dating to the earliest westward migrations of Men. It is a town on a major east-west thoroughfare (though by the time of LOTR visited primarily by traveling Dwarves) near a major north-south road again, little used by LOTR). It is an open town, only lightly guarded, and a known meeting place. Finally, it is inhabited by two races and is a place where races freely mix and exchange news. While one might speculate that there are similar towns elsewhere, the only place even remotely similar is Laketown-Dale and then only after Erebor was re-established or before the coming of Smaug.

In many ways, Bree is very unique.