Thinking of relocating to Wyoming: would love info on small mountain towns (Laramie: find a job, movies)

[sharstroup]

I am currently living in Golden CO and would like to relocate. I would like to see some of the states before I am too old to enjoy them.
I want to live in a small town in the mountains (under 1000 people). I would love any suggestions anyone has

Thanks,
Sharon

[NDak15]

There is no shortage of towns less than 1,000 people in this state. Take a look at towns in the northwest corner for some ideas. I'm told the southeast part of the state near Laramie is pretty but I don't have much experience there. The thing you should keep in mind is that in towns like that there are not many jobs available.

[Wyomama2]

Check into Centennial and Saratoga, those would be my picks.

[Sunshinegirl4650atY]

Do you need to find a job to earn a living?

If not, Afton or Swan Valley are very nice. Easy access to the mountains.

[jody_wy]

my view

[Athair]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

my view

Very nice

[ElkHunter]

I'm always impressed with Jody's pictures.

I've been thinking and Wyoming is very short of towns, in the mountains. We have lots of towns at the base of the mountains, but only a few, truely up in the mountains. That's because our beloved mountains are protected and called National Forest.

However, we have lots of small towns that fit the bill to being withing just a few minutes of the mountains. I can only speak for my neck of the woods, the Big Horn Mountains.

Buffalo, a town larger then what you have in mind, however there are jobs available, and housing available in Buffalo. Major shopping is North about 30 miles to Sheridan, a town of about 18,000 and great medical facilities.

Story. Kind of costly as it's a beautiful mountain setting (still at the base), but heavily wooded, large 3 or 4 acre lots, lots of cabins and more moutain tradition decor. Very expensive as a 2 bedroom place may run over $1000 a month and even more if it's got a garage and out buildings. Deer, bear, etc.. roam through everybodys yards. Shopping is also in Sheridan, but only about 16 miles away.

Ranchester. More of a agricultural type town in that we are surrounded by the Padlock Ranch. Town is about 800 people and unless you want to work in the one bar or the one store, there are no jobs. However, it's a short 16 miles into Sheridan where jobs are more plentiful.

Dayton. Another town with only 750 people, located 5 miles West of Ranchester and is nestled right up against the Big Horn Mountains. Again, only 1 small store, a couple of bars, a couple of places to eat, a beauty salon, a realistate office, and that's about it. There is housing available in both Ranchester and Dayton and the surrounding areas.

These towns I listed are all within a few minutes of running up the mountain for hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, or just sight seeing. All of these towns use Sheridan for grocery shopping and medical needs. Sheridan provides most jobs in the area and has a plethora of things to do as far as dining, movies, stage, museums, memorials, etc... There is never a dull moment in Sheridan as there is ALWAY something going on and most is free to the public or at least at a very low cost.

Being next to the Big Horn mountains, we tend to not get the violent storms nor do we get really bad weather. Storms seem to come in from the North West and bounce over the mountain and regroup to the East of us around Clearmont. Sheridan will get a 15 mph wind with 3 inches os snow, but the storm will regroup and dump 12 inches on Clearmont with 50 mph winds.

Roads in this area are kept clear. Wyoming DOT does an outstanding job and the plows are out when it starts snowing and they run until it stops snowing. Seldom are the roads closed between us and Sheridan. Last winter there were 4 or 5 incidences of closure and each time it was for a few hours only, not overnight or for days on end.

Hope this helped.

[jody_wy]

Cokeville is in the BearRiver Valley but the moutains there are more like very large sage brush hills with some timber or quakes, now Smith Fork Valley outside cokeville is another big WOW

[NDak15]

Amazing views Jody.

[jebatu]

All I can say Jody is WOW