Relocating to Wright, WY (Casper, Gillette: sales, rental, crime)

[wy_bound]

Hello everyone...

I want to take this time to introduce myself. I hope that someone will be kind enough to respond to my post. It may be better if you PM and/or Email me.

My family is moving to Campbell County, WY (from MI) since there is an energy boom happening as I speak. Since I won't be able to afford Gillette's housing costs right away, I have opted for the small town of Wright. The only problem I am up against is finding a large enough rental home/trailer that allows pets. If anyone at all knows of a 3-4 bedroom rental that will be available soon, then please let me know.

Even though my wife and I are very familiar with large city living and the crime that goes along with it... it's time for a change. Besides this, we want our children to have a better education than what they are used to. We know that Wyoming can definitely help us out here.

Before I go, I have a few questions with regard to Wright, WY...

1. Is the town of Wright a close-knit community?

2. Is there anything for my kids to do? They are 11 and 15

3. Is there bus service from Wright to the coal mines?

4. Are the Wright schools any good or should I consider sending my kids to Gillette instead?

I have already contacted the Chamber of Commerce and visited various Websites. Instead of listening to some office worker's sales pitch, I am more interested in some feedback from people who have put time into Wright or Gillette Wyoming.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your PMs and Emails.

[blakeman59]

Hi Wyo bound,

First of all I would like to congratulate you on making a great decision for you and your family. My understanding is that many benefits are available to people particularly from Michigan to move their families to Wyoming to provide the needed labor for the energy industries.

Going down your message I see that you express some compromise in not being able to move to Gillette and moving to wright. This hits right square in the middle of my idea about living in Wyoming. If I moved to Wyoming I would be close to Gillette or any other place with shopping. So wright, Moorcroft, Upton, Newcastle would be my targets. The reason I would prefer these small outlying communities to Gillette is because they are closer to the recreation in the black hills or even the Big Horn Mountains and because these communities represent the small town feel that is the reason it is good to live in Wyoming. I am not saying Gillette doesn't have that since by a national scale Gillette is also a small town. The difference is that Gillette doesn't consider itself or strive to be or deliver a small town experience.

When I visit the area I see Gillette having subdivisions and development that is much like anywhere else in the US. There's a reason that every place has these because they are convenient and make your life easier but the price is to be in a place that looks like everywhere else but of course missing the restaurants, shopping malls, and variety of specialty shops found in metropolitan areas. SO to me, Living in Wyoming is about small towns or having a nice home on bigger acreage with maximum privacy. Wyoming is one of the last places in the continental US that you can get this and you don't find it in Gillette subdivisions. I still hold out it is a good idea to be within a half hour or so of the movie theatre, grocery stores and services that can be found in Gillette primarily for Northeast Wyoming. Upton and Newcastle make good alternatives since they are close to the black hills where Deadwood and Rapid City provide recreation and shopping but are a little bit of a drive to make.

I think you will not find and abundance of rental housing in Northeast Wyoming. Here again if you are forced to rent in Gillette you will pay much more in Gillette than in the smaller communities.

You couldn't be more on target about the quality of your kids education. In my experience I often find degreed working adults that don't know basics that I learned in k-12 Wyoming schools. With the Wyoming state legislature 2005 session passing much additional funding for the schools and for the Hathaway Scholarship program you are doing your kids a big favor simply by moving to Wyoming.

I think one of the best things for the kids to do in Wyoming is something that is right in front of your face in Michigan and will be in Wyoming and that is to participate in school sports. The big difference is going to be that in Wyoming your kids won't have to be NBA calibre to be on the high school varsity team (as long as you live in the smaller community) In the big city parents are completely shut out from this since unless your child is simply gifted or you spent your life grooming him from the age of 3 he will likely not make the school team. This is very different in small towns in Wyoming. Kids can play and if your in a small enough town your kids can always walk a couple of blocks to the school for practice. Also once they are on the team the population density of Wyoming is so low that your child will travel to the away games over a huge geographic area of the state. This is also an important distinction from your big city experience where even if the child makes the team the league is likely confined to a 20 or mile radius from your home. In Wyoming the high school team will travel sometimes a 100 miles or more to the away games and see a lot of country and meet a lot of friendly people in doing so. When I was in High school there we had overnight trips in some cases. And it was all provided by the schools as part of the experience of being on the team nothing was required of the parents. I think many parents love to follow the team simply because it is fun to tour the state in this way and of course to see your child participate in the games.

I don't know if there is bus service to the mines from wright Since nearly everyone in wright works at the mines you likely will have no trouble car pooling with someone.

I have already said much about the schools i the small towns versus gillette schools. all wyoming schools will benefit from better funding than you are used to. The small town schools may not have as good of computer equipment or class variety as Gillette but make up for it in easier access to school sports and a closer community feel.

[wy_bound]

Blake,

You couldn't be more right and I sincerely appreciate your input. I truly believe that it's better to look at things from someone else's perspective.

If I were 10 years younger, then the smaller communities would not interest me at all. Since I am in my late thirties with a wife and two children to think about, the small towns are more appealing. Of course, this is what works for my situation.

If there is anyone else who can share something on the issue of "small town vs. larger city" or on the town of Wright (in general), then please don't hesitate.

Thanks so much everyone!

[manyholes]

You would not like Wright too clicky. You should go to gillette better place for eastern folks

[Jared]

definitely check out Moorcroft, it's closer to Gillette and you'll have better access to Keyhole and the Black Hills for you and your family.

I just moved to Sundance a few weeks ago and I love it!

- Jared
imperative at hotmail dot com

[luvWY]

I disagree with manyholes. Wright is made up of folks from everywhere across America who are looking for high paying energy related jobs. When these folks move to Wright, they are quickly absorbed into this diverse close knit community. Go to the Wright, Wyoming -- website and check out the community. I moved here from California and found it to be very refreshing. It is true that you have to drive a ways to get to the "Big" shopping (38 miles to Gillette) or 1 1/2 hours to Casper, but that is all of Wyoming. Wright is situated in Campbell County, which is one of the richest counties in the state. Therefore, if your kids attend school in Wright, they will benefit from the higher paid teachers and technology associated with the CCSD schools. Gillette's 5A School in regards to sport activities is VERY high caliber. Your kid has to be almost semi-pro to play. Wright is a 3A school and the nick-name for Wright is "Title Town". Just about every kid gets to play, and if they are not into athletics, their drama team is 9 time State Champ! Although Moorcroft, Newcastle and Upton are more scenic, they are farther from the mines (think winter driving) and are from much poorer counties. For you and your kid's benefit, Wright is a progressive community, close to the mines and a great place for your kids to grow up.

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by luvWY

I disagree with manyholes. Wright is made up of folks from everywhere across America who are looking for high paying energy related jobs. When these folks move to Wright, they are quickly absorbed into this diverse close knit community. Go to the Wright, Wyoming -- website and check out the community. I moved here from California and found it to be very refreshing. It is true that you have to drive a ways to get to the "Big" shopping (38 miles to Gillette) or 1 1/2 hours to Casper, but that is all of Wyoming. Wright is situated in Campbell County, which is one of the richest counties in the state. Therefore, if your kids attend school in Wright, they will benefit from the higher paid teachers and technology associated with the CCSD schools. Gillette's 5A School in regards to sport activities is VERY high caliber. Your kid has to be almost semi-pro to play. Wright is a 3A school and the nick-name for Wright is "Title Town". Just about every kid gets to play, and if they are not into athletics, their drama team is 9 time State Champ! Although Moorcroft, Newcastle and Upton are more scenic, they are farther from the mines (think winter driving) and are from much poorer counties. For you and your kid's benefit, Wright is a progressive community, close to the mines and a great place for your kids to grow up.

When I lived in Gillette, Wright really didn't exist except for a dot on the map and a few trailers. It's interesting that it has grown into a real town tho not too surprising. To put into perspective how rich in coal Campbell County is...if it was a country it would be 5th in the world in coal reserves. When I think of Wright I think of Barrow, Ak or Siberia...thanks for giving me another perspective.