Question: Do you like breathing? I'm guessing yes, you do.

Do you like breathing clean air? Okay, good. I mean, who doesn't?

So where in America would you move to breathe the cleanest air?

Start with Wyoming.

Casper and Cheyenne lead Wyoming for clean air, ranking nationally for the lowest particle pollution according to the American Lung Association.  

While statewide rankings for "cleanest cities" in Wyoming generally focus on air quality index (AQI) data rather than a formal statewide top-10 list of municipal cleanliness, IQAir and environmental reports highlight the top locations with the cleanest air in Wyoming.

Getty Images
Getty Images

Top 10 States In America With The Cleanest Air

Based on recent environmental health and air pollution data from agencies like the EPA and studies compiled by America's Health Rankings and US News, these ten states frequently lead the nation for clean air:

  • Alaska
  • Hawaii
  • Wyoming
  • South Dakota
  • New Hampshire
  • Maine
  • Vermont
  • Nebraska
  • New York
  • New Jersey

If you are wondering about those last two, they mean upstate New York and New Jersey, not the cities.

Fewer people mean fewer vehicle emissions and less industrial congestion, which is why these states have cleaner AirLow Population Density. Plus, geographic location plays part as constant ocean trade winds in Hawaii and strong daily winds in Wyoming help scatter airborne pollutants.

So, yeah, those Wyoming winds help to keep our air clean.

Our area here in the Cowboy State also has minimal heavy industry. Many of these top-ranking states lack large-scale manufacturing and heavy industrial corridors.

If you want to visualize what this looks like, there is a map created by US News that will help you see it.

Wyoming's Vintage Rail Restorations

Out in a corner of southeast Wyoming, working from old nuclear missile silos, old trains and train cars are being restored.

Vintage Rail Restorations is a specialized firm dedicated to the restoration and preservation of historic railroad equipment, including passenger cars, cabooses, and vintage locomotives.

Visit their Facebook page at this link to see more.

Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods

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