Transportation For America » Livability in small towns #10: State of Wyoming

Livability in small towns #10: State of Wyoming

September 9, 2010
By Sean Barry

This collection of 12 case studies helps put to rest the idea that livability is an exclusively “urban” idea. Small cities, towns and rural regions across the country are transforming themselves into more livable communities. While some of these communities face formidable threats – from job losses and shrinking populations to disappearing farmland and strained resources – their leaders have forged collaborations and created plans that are growing economies, benefiting people and protecting the land and lifestyles treasured by residents and non-residents alike.

Check back each day for a new post and read the full series of livability case studies as they’re posted. The intro can be found here.

Wyoming

“High on the list is how we can welcome growth and prosperity and still protect the things and the places that make Wyoming a special place to live.”

Governor Dave Freudenthal, D – Wyoming

The state of Wyoming put together a blueprint for getting infrastructure up-to-date and preparing for new business while preserving its unique quality of life.

Wyoming has faced similar challenges to North Dakota. Although the state is rich in coal and natural resources, its population is in decline, especially among college graduates. Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal and state officials employed smart growth principles and visioning to keep talent in Wyoming and improve quality of life. Wyoming is one of the sparsest states in the country.

“We have arrived at a unique point in time in Wyoming,” Freudenthal said in 2008. “Our economy continues to surge ahead, unemployment remains at a record low and we’re seeing an encouraging increase in the number of companies that are looking to move to Wyoming and set up shop.” Although Wyoming has struggled alongside the rest of the country in the economic recession, it maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates of all 50 states.

Infrastructure in Wyoming has often failed to keep up with the movement of people in search of industrial jobs, and the state’s plentiful natural resources can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they have kept the economy strong, but overuse of the land could come at the expense of the Wyoming’s beauty and unique appeal. With the benefits of growth come “serious challenges,” as Freudenthal put it.

“There is growing attention being given to the pace and pattern of growth in the state, especially as it affects our wildlife, our characteristic open spaces, our breathtaking mountain vistas and our wild and pristine places,” he said. “There are also mounting pressures for housing and infrastructure in cities, towns and counties around the state, where an influx of people and an increase in industrial activity have strained existing resources.

“When considering the most significant challenges facing Wyoming and its future, high on the list is how we can welcome growth and prosperity and still protect the things and the places that make Wyoming a special place to live,” he continued. “We need to foster conversations about how to build the Wyoming that we want for our kids and grandkids.”

Source: Office of Governor Dave Freudenthal