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.

Park City, Utah: Resort Plaza Cam Viewer

To see a live televised  wide angle and telescoped camera view of the plaza in Park City, go to this link:

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/conditions/mountain_cams/controllable_cam_01.html

Park City, Utah: Only about 8000 permanent residents, it is a tourist, sport, and film mecca

Park City has had a long history, first as a silver mining center, then later as a center for winter sports such as snowboarding and skiing. Its primary claim to fame today is the annual Sundance Film Festival, which draws film producers and film stars from around the globe. The independent films that are showcased here are the best to be found anywhere. There are art galleries and bistros in abundance. The charm of the city is in its mountain high beauty, resting at 7000 feet elevation, and the marvelous lodge style architecture of its many hotels, resorts, and homes. Young adults gather into the city seasonally for employment at peak events. The city has so much to offer and so much potential growth. It is only about 33 miles from Salt Lake City but is one of the cities not founded by Mormons. It is a multicultural, multiethnic city of snowy beauty and crystal clear nights lit by the brilliance of electric lanterns. Take a visit, you will love it. It is one of the wealthiest towns in the nation but offers opportunity for those whose pockets are not as full as well.

Pahrump, Nevada: Rodeos and Golf Courses

The population of Pahrump is around 37,000. The elevation is approximately 2600 feet above sea level. The town is a good one for solar power, as it has at least 216 days a year that are clear and sunny. The town is in Nye County, the largest county in Nevada and the third largest in the country. A major attraction of the town is that it has no personal income taxes, no corporate income taxes, no franchise taxes, inventory or estate taxes. Property taxes are reasonable on top of that.

Another great feature of Pahrump is that it is only an hour from Las Vegas, and is growing in the same manner that Vegas did. The down side is that there are brothels in Pahrump.. but hey, no place is perfect. They are legalized and controlled, so that those who do not frequent them can go about their lives with no concern over them. The town is expanding and has much to offer: great climate, low prices, and lots of space to grow.

Mountain View, Arkansas: Folk Music and Art, Tiny Town

The 2005 census lists the population of Mountain View as under 3000. Yet the small town has vitality, creativity, and joy.  It is surprising to discover that the film star Dick Powell was born in Mountain View.
The town thrives mostly on tourism. The area has many attractions to draw visitors, from the Blanchard Springs Caverns to the Ozark Folk Center to the White River to the Ozark National Forest. Hunting and fishing opportunities abound here. There are several major festivals held each year, and a number of jam sessions for musicians at the local cafes and the courthouse square. The largest business is the Stone County Iron Works. There is of course some small scale farming, some cattle and chicken raising as well.
In October, the Arkansas Bean Fest includes an outhouse race. In Mid-March there is a Bluegrass Festival, and of course Christmas is a great time to be in Mountain View. The town's charming woodsy setting is perfect for winter celebrating and warm gatherings in front of a fireplace. At the folk art center you can even take banjo lessons. Gosh, you might never want to leave this great little town.
An interesting historical note about Mountain View is the 1929 murder case involving in which a young man was killed. Years went by before evidence came to light that while on a date with his young girlfriend, four men attacked them. They raped the girl, who testified at the trial, and then killed the young man and buried him. The Connie Franklin case makes good reading.

Silver City: Western New Mexico University

Located in Silver City, the university offers bachelors degrees in a wide range of disciplines from art to technology. The presence of a university in Silver City means that the town will continue to grow and prosper.

Silver City: The Blue Dome Art Gallery, Karen Kessler painting of "Opuntia II"

Silver city is a town rich with art galleries, and was listed as an Art Town in a recent book. This painting is by Karen Kessler, and is shown in the Blue Dome Art Gallery in Silver City. Some of the other galleries are:

Azurite Gallery
www.zianet.com - (575) 538-9048

Blue Dome Gallery
www.bluedomegallery.com - (575) 534-8671
Ol West Gallery & Mercantile
575) 313-2595

Silver Spirit Gallery
www.silverspiritgallery.com - (575) 388-2079
Gallery 400
www.gilahouse.com - (575) 313-7015

Studio Space & Gallery
maps.google.com - (575) 534-9291

Tatiana Maria Gallery
maps.google.com - (575) 388-4426

This Week's Small Town: Silver City, New Mexico

With a population of just over 10,000, Silver City, New Mexico has become a mecca for the retired who want peace, natural beauty, a sense of history, and an assortment of things to do. Silver City has a full array of activities on their yearly calendar and also has interesting places to hike, walk, or educate yourself on the history of the old west.

Graham, Texas: video link tour of the town; Graham Library

For a video tour of Graham's recreation and social offerings, copy and paste this link into yur search line:  http://biz.grahamtexas.net/img/GrahamMovie_MPEG1_Medium.mpg

Graham Library has over 50,000 books, 95 magazines subscriptions, newspapers, and a bank of 20 internet connected computers for use by patrons. The Graham Library is an important center fot the town's citizens, with an attractive modern building and spaciousness inside. It is a place where time can be spent reading and researching for students and writers. The library also provides an online catalog of the resources available.

This Week's Town: Graham, Texas

Graham, Texas, has a population of about 8500, as of the July 2008 report. Founded by the Graham  brothers, owners of the Texas Emigration and Land Company of Kentucky, the area contained 125,000 acres in Young County. it was the site of a busy salt works which the brothers purchased prior to 1900. The brothers donated land, churches, and other structures to the town and it is still a viable town. In 1917 oil was found near Graham and the population began to expand somewhat with the influx of oil money. The Leader, the town newspaper, is still in circulation today from a first printing in 1876. The Leader is now available online. The town has a cotton mill, a saw mill, a brick kiln, hotels and several stores. It might be a great town in which to develop a new enterprise or to install a manufacturing plant for either industrial or technological products.
For information on business and development in Graham,  the Chamber of Commerce is the best place to begin an inquiry.

A city overview gives the following information on Graham:

As of 2009, Graham's population is 8,518 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of -0.29 percent.
The median home cost in Graham is $52,840. Home appreciation the last year has been 1.20 percent.
Compared to the rest of the country, Graham's cost of living is 26.70% Lower than the U.S. average.
Graham public schools spend $5,173 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 16 students per teacher in Graham.
The unemployment rate in Graham is 5.50 percent(U.S. avg. is 8.50%). Recent job growth is Positive. Graham jobs have Increased by 4.60 percent.

Located on the edge of the Palo Pinto Mountains, the largest peak is Twin Mountains, overlooking the town.
There have been several notable people come from Graham, such as Rex Brown, bass player for the band Pantera, and also Robert McFarlane, who served as National Security Advisor to President Reagan.

Small Towns: Under 50,000 population

Across America there are delightful small towns. The people say hello and offer a helping hand when someone needs it. Things like high speed freeway chases are never seen, the local diner is filled with neighbors at six in the morning, the local bank is not at risk for being taken over, and your home is indeed your castle. This website is dedicated to highlighting these towns. They deserve to be given credit for getting things right. Once a week I will feature a different town, and that town will have a post each day of that week. By the end of the week, you will know enough about the town to feel comfortable visiting there or heck, even living there if the spirit moves you.