Why Do Wyomingites Prefer Boring Little Towns
Have you ever wondered how people survive way out west in tiny little towns with almost nothing to do?
Last weekend friends of mine were looking at a beautiful little bungalow cottage for sale in Douglas, Wyoming.
Douglas, Wyoming has just over 6000 people and is a pretty little town.
But if you need to go to the store for anything besides groceries you'll have to leave town, and it's a long drive.
The same goes for other Wyoming towns like Buffalo, Kaycee, Wheatland, Chugwater, Hana, Medicine Bow, Midwest, Shashonie, Thermopolis, and Lusk...
I could keep going. It's a long list.
So, why do people out west choose to live like this?
Let's compare a major city to a small Wyoming town to see what we can learn.
I've lived in small towns. I've lived in major cities. Both have their advantages, but I do get a little sick of hearing from some snobbish city dwellers that they feel sorry for those who live way out west in small towns- in states like Wyoming.
SCHOOLS
Folks in New York City seem to think that rural schools would have to be inferior. If that's the case then why are so many people pulling their kids out of failed city schools and moving to small-town school districts? NYC schools often suffer problems of bullying, teacher's unions, violence, and overcrowding to name just a few issues.
Glenrock, Wyoming schools might have the occasional scuffle between growing boys behind the gym after class, but that's about it.
Folks in NYC tend to think small-town people are undereducated. But small-town people attend major universities just like they do. Since major city schools are so bad I'd say there are more under-educated dropouts in NYC than in Glenrock Wyoming.
CRIME
NYC, like all major cities, has high crime and murder rates. America watches nightly riots, looting, and gang violence.
A Glenrock police deputy tested his lights and sirens the other day just to see if they worked. It has been so long since the townspeople heard that noise, that their kids freaked out.
TRAFFIC
In NYC a commute can take over an hour to drive which should take just a few minutes. The gridlock is beyond frustrating. Constant accidents, no place to park, and tolls everywhere. If you own a car in NYC you'll need to rent a parking space in a garage to keep it. That will cost you about $425 a month on average.
In Glenrock folks can park on the curb, free of charge. Plus every home and apartment has its own driveway.
The only traffic problem Glenrock, Wyoming has is when the antelope decides to hang out in the middle of town.
Directions in Glenrock are easy. There is one, four way stop in town. No traffic light. If you ask directions everyone will tell you to go to the 4 way stop and --- from there...
HOMELESSNESS AND GARBAGE
NYC has garbage, dirty needles, and drug addicts lining the sidewalks. Don't even get me started on their rat problem. NYC and other major cities actually pay teams of people to scrape up human poop from the sidewalks.
Glenrock has the occasional dead skunk in the road and a little deer poop. The deer poop is actually good for the lawn.
New Yorkers don't have lawns.
COST OF LIVING
Want to buy a small apartment in NYC? According to the Corcoran Group, the real estate brokerage, the median price of a simple two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is now $916,000. The median price of a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan is $710,000
Here is a 5 Beds 3 Baths 4,434 Sq Ft house in Glenrock for $549,000.
TAXES
In NYC people pay about 51% of their income in taxes.
In comparison, Glenrock has VERY LOW taxes and Wyoming doesn't have a state income tax.
FRIENDLY PEOPLE
Don't make eye contact and say hello to someone in NYC, like in all other cities that's considered creepy.
In Glenrock, people say hello to strangers they pass. Heck, they even raise two fingers to strangers driving the other way on a back highway.
POLITICS
NYC politicians are corrupt and stupid. What does that say about the people who keep electing them?
NYC is run by organized crime.
Glenrock Wyoming is run by Councilwoman AnnaBelle "Boots" Faunce who tells it like it is down at the Classic Café. (Yes, that is a real person and a real place). When Annabelle is busy with the grandkids everyone refers to Margaret.
LIFESTYLE AND JOBS
Some ignorant and ungrateful people in NYC think small-town people are stupid for choosing the work they do. What they don't realize is that their city lifestyle would not be possible if those small-town people in Glenrock were not producing food, energy, and all the materials they use for everything else the city has.
Glenrock has fresh air. That air is not filled by the sounds of traffic and sirens 24/7.
I quit scoring a while ago. I think we see who's won here.
THE HISTORY & REBIRTH OF CHUGWATER WYOMING
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
Almost Forgotton Wyoming Cemetary
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods