Sheridan, Wyoming

Last week, I made a stop at the local Walgreen's drugstore to pick up an ink cartridge for my printer. I spotted also a "topsy turvy" tomato planter and bought it. While checking out, a woman behind me began to chat with me. Turns out she was an out of towner, told me she lived in Sheridan, Wyoming. She said it is a terrific town, and is the third largest town in Wyoming. She said she was here in California visiting a grandchild and could not wait to get home again. I told her that I had only been to Cheyenne in the past, and liked Wyoming in general, and that I would do a post on her town here. So... here goes.

Sheridan has a history of cattle ranching, railroading, mining, breweries and refineries. Today it is a charming town that has preserved much of its wild west flavor. There are year round scheduled activities that reflect this history, such as the Buffalo Bill Days in the summertime, June 24-June 27th this year. . The town had about 15,000 population in the last census of 2000; today it probably is around 20,000 or so. In the past decade, there has been an increased interest in the arts, with the installation of street art sculptures and the opening of some small galleries. The historic Sheridan Inn was said to have been built by Buffalo Bill Cody himself, and it still stands today. Sheridan has been ranked as number one of the top western towns in the country by True West Magazine.

Antelopes and Cowboy Bars.. the flavor of the West..

A street intersection in Sheridan, Wyoming.. a real western town.

Winnemucca, Nevada: a small town in a state with no state taxes; what could be better?

Winnemucca was originally populated by Chinese railroad workers who stayed and formed a community of about 400 after the transcontinental railroad was completed in the 1890s. The Chinese ruler Sun Yat Sen visited the community in 1911, to meet some of the expatriots and join in religious ceremonies there at a church they had created. Later, mining activity began in the area, mining turquoise and metals. Now there are casinos and even a legal brothel or two here. The community now has hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. It sits in the Nevada plains, surrounded by miles of open grasslands and some ranges of mountains in the distance. Land is low priced here. The weather has wide ranges, swinging from 100 degrees in the height of summer to below zero in the midst of winter. If you like seasons, you will like Winnemucca. Likewise, if you like wide open spaces and a small town environment, you will love Winnemucca.

Each year Winnemucca holds motorcycle and car rallies. This year, from July through August will be the Fifties Fever Car Show. There are also cowboy focused activities in the town, including rodeo events. There are book clubs and book store activities that are active as well.

All in all, not a bad little town to live in either short or long term.

Alva, Oklahoma: One of the Murals in the town, painted by Roger Cooke

Alva, Oklahoma: A College Town, A Mural Town

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Laramie, Wyoming: A University Town that is also A Western Town

Laramie has just under 28,000 population, and an unemployment rate of just 1.4%. The University of Wyomng has a campus here, with a wide range of majors and very reasonable tuition for resident students. Homes can be bought for as low as $100,000 and the median price is about $170,000.  The cost of living is about 12% less than most towns nationwide.

The city sits at an elevation of about 7100 ft., and there are many outdoor activities one can enjoy. Fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, and a variety of winter sports such as snow mobiling are part6s of the Laramie lifestyle. The town offers a small town flavor while also having a full array of big city amenities such as fine restaurants, art galleries, schools and colleges, and businesses as well.

for more photos of Laramie, click here

Bellingham, Washington: All this and a college town, lake town, and Arts Center too..

Bellingham, Washington, is a bit larger than the small towns I normally focus on, at over 75,000 population, but it has retained the small town flavor. It also has a number of factors that are inviting for those who want to live in such a town: lots of water: lakes, ocean nearby. Also a great college and arts and entertainment in abundance. Then there is also the beauty of the northwest setting, with forests and meadows in the richest greens. It is an abundantly pleasant place to be, and is not too far from the Canadian border.

Sandpoint, Idaho: Charm and Water, what could be better in a small town?

Sandpoint Idaho is a town that has the benefit of a low population (about 8000), water features, and a charming downtown. It also has some notable industries, such as Coldwater Creek and Quest Aircraft. In 2006, the community initiated the first international film festival in Sandpoint. The

Lakedance International Film Festival, showcasing independent films at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint, has become an annual event that attracts visitors from around the world.