Thinking of Moving to Wyoming (Cheyenne, Casper: employment, school, university)

[ElkHunter]

So your going to judge the entire state by what you've experienced in Rawlins? That's a little harsh.

How much time have you spent in other towns in Wyoming? Casper, Douglas, Buffalo, Sheridan, Powell, Cody, Lovell and areas that were not born of the oil boom? Towns that are towns for other reasons then to just feed the methane and oil fields?

Rawlins is not for the faint of heart. But please don't judge the entire state by what you experienced there.

[GEORGIAINMT]

I have to agree with Elkhunter. Wyo2008 was way too harsh in his/her post. What an unhappy, ungrateful, egotistic person you must be, Wyo2008! I really feel sorry for people who have such a negative outlook on life. Why would you even put Wyo in your screen name if you think it is such a terrible place? Have you ever given a thought to maybe that waitress at the truck stop is doing the best she can to support a family? Living around what you probably notate as "oil field trash" for most of my life I know that most of these guys are very hardworking, intelligent men. They chose to go into the bluecollar field of oil production because the money is good. This doesn't mean that they couldn't have gone to college to become "educated" if they had so chosen! Because of the energy resources in Wyoming contributing to the tax base children are afforded some of the best education in the country. So don't you tell me that people in Wyoming are uneducated! Being a Wyoming native, I take offense at your generalization that people in Wyoming are uneducated, drug addicts, scum of the earth people! There are many, many people who are very intelligent, wonderful people who choose to live in a beautiful state for a variety of reasons. You can't even say anything good without turning it around into a negative (ie: your comments about Cheyenne). Maybe most of us haven't had the opportunity to live all over the world as you have, but so what? If people are happy where they are who are you to judge? You are welcome to your opinion as far as Wyoming not being the place for you, but you certainly aren't as "educated" as you think you are or you wouldn't be making such vast generalizations! At least we are "educated" enough to know that Wyoming, being the large state that it is, has a very eclectic variety of towns, people, landscapes, etc. Uh oh!!!! Did I use a word that might be too sophisticated for us Wyoming folk????? If you've paid any attention at all to the Wyoming posts you will see that there is an overwhelming consensus that the people of Wyoming are among the friendliest, most welcoming anywhere. I really think you must have your head buried in one of those potholes you mentioned because you certainly haven't investigated the beauty of the Wyoming people or its landscape. If you are so unhappy here, then don't let the door hit you in the behind on your way out. I'm sure you can find some Wyoming hick with a beat up 4x4, toothless grin, and filthy clothes to gladly escort you out of the state! For others who are reading this post, PLEASE take Wyo2008's opinion with a grain of salt. Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole cart Come to Wonderful Wyoming and judge for yourself and I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised!

[jazzlover]

I would agree just a little with Wyo2008--Rawlins is no garden spot, and never will be. I've met a number of nice people from there, though--as I have everywhere in Wyoming. Here's the thing--guess what?--the places in Wyoming that people tend to find most disagreeable in so far as the local people are concerned tend to be the boom towns (Rock Springs, Gillette, etc.--and now Rawlins as it is starting to boom again) with the largest percentage of non-native relatively recently transplanted residents. So, it probably isn't the Wyoming natives and long-term residents who are creating the "bad vibe." In the years that I spent in Wyoming, I found most native Wyomingites to be some of the nicest, most honest, most decent people that I ever met. Admittedly, they can be sometimes "blunt" in their demeanor, but it's not meant to be offensive. It's a "Western" trait, and very common in most Rocky Mountain natives. People who read my posts have probably figured out that I'm a Rocky Mountain native--I don't beat around the bush, either.

[emeraldsky]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Here's the thing--guess what?--the places in Wyoming that people tend to find most disagreeable in so far as the local people are concerned tend to be the boom towns (Rock Springs, Gillette, etc.--and now Rawlins as it is starting to boom again) with the largest percentage of non-native relatively recently transplanted residents. So, it probably isn't the Wyoming natives and long-term residents who are creating the "bad vibe."

That's another broad generalization...

As recent transplants to Gillette, our yard happens to be the prettiest, tidiest on the block. We're not blunt, crude, or grouchy to the people we come in contact with. My family and I are frequenters of parks (more family people out and about tend to discourage other dubious gatherings). And our son has brought a positive academic contribution and representation to his school.

Just pointing out that broad generalizations are often faulty, and that there are many "transplants" adding to the existing good, as well as helping to improve the areas in which they live.

p.s. I wouldn't mind seeing a new bookstore or two either... Though our library here in Gillette is quite terrific.

[WyoMama]

Wyo2008 - don't hold back, let us know how you REALLY feel!!!

I have to agree that I could NEVER live in Rawlins or anywhere along the I-80 corridor except MAYBE Green River but the heat in the summer would kill me. If you want isolation & are a bit of an entrepreneur, Kemmerer is really a great little town. Isolated yet only a couple or 3 hours to Pocatello, ID & Bridger Teton Mountains about 20 minutes away & about every sort of environment imaginable. Is about 60-90 minutes (depending upon the trucks on the road & the weather) to Evanston where there is a WalMart & not much further to some beautiful mountains to the south. There's a LOT to see in that area & stays cool in summer (like no higher than 80's) but really cold & snowy in winter. Moose are all over town following the Ham's Fork River into town - very cool & very small - only 2000-3000 population I believe & is basically a coal mining town. VISIT BEFORE TRUE CONSIDERATION...

Wheatland in southeastern Wyo (about an hour north of Cheyenne on I-25) is a great little town, very clean, very friendly - I lived there for 7 years & had a great friend the first day I moved there & another one the first day we moved into our house 3 months later. Old fashioned & a little more self-sufficient than a lot of places are (like Jackson..). Is about 3 hours to Denver, less than 2 hours to Fort Collins - another college town besides Laramie, about 70 miles to Laramie over US 34 over Morton Pass & 110 miles north to Casper. About 20 minutes to the mountains & a LOT of open, public land access, which is more than you can say about most mountain access areas. I really liked living there & housing is moderate (always things for sale - new & old) and reasonable RE prices. (And yes about F.E. Warren AFB in Chey-town is very active - the C-130's flew over our home at last weekly to check the MX missle silo across I-25 from where I lived - we watched it be changed from a Minuteman silo to an MX & in March of 1987 watched them place the MX into the reconditioned silo at about 0300 hr. Pretty freaky but would rather have my house on the enemy's map than live thru such an attack. LOL!!

I'm in Cody, tourist town - 50 miles east of Y'stone. Is a LOT more tolerable than Jackson in my own humble opinion & been here 20 years. Is expensive - there are jobs here esp. for professionals & a college in Powell, 22 miles away. A lot of housing here (NOT all particularly affordable but building more affordable slowly) & in Powell (which by the way is a bit less expensive & near halfway between the Rockies / Absorka range [North Shoshone Forest] & the Big Horn Mountains). Ag area rather than open range for the most part. Billings is about 110 miles away from either town & is our best shopping (and closest mall & interstate) for big ticket items & no sales tax but you pay for it in the meals, gas, etc. for the day or 2 to go up & get your shopping done. Also we have excellent medical care in Cody & Powell (I know first hand because I did the credentialing /backgrounds on practitioners in Cody for 13 yr until 2001) & Billings is close enough for severe cases & a heart cath lab avail (unless weather does not permit any sort of trasport - just one of those trade-offs with living in Wyo). I usually only go a couple times a year - I order online.

Meeteetse is a funky little old western town about 33 miles south in hill country - sort of foothills up to the Shoshone Forest. Not sure is even 1500 in popultion but is more self-sufficient than a lot of the small Wyo towns. I'd steer clear of eastern big horn basin PERSONALLY but property is much less expensive there. (That tells you something right there...)

What type of work are you trained for?

[TNT22]

Originally Posted by WyoMama

Meeteetse is a funky little old western town about 33 miles south in hill country - sort of foothills up to the Shoshone Forest. Not sure is even 1500 in popultion but is more self-sufficient than a lot of the small Wyo towns. I'd steer clear of eastern big horn basin PERSONALLY but property is much less expensive there. (That tells you something right there...)

What type of work are you trained for?

What's the problem with the eastern Big Horn Basin? PERSONALLY, I find the towns of Shell/Hyattville/Ten Sleep to be among the most beautiful in the entire state.

[WyoMama]

Originally Posted by TNT22

What's the problem with the eastern Big Horn Basin? PERSONALLY, I find the towns of Shell/Hyattville/Ten Sleep to be among the most beautiful in the entire state.

I actually wasn't talking about QUITE that far east. I agree w/the towns you mentioned - esp Ten Sleep. Even Worland is OK in the town - just isn't surrounded by much for a little ways. No, was talking about north of Worland. But the property is inexpensive in those towns. Unfortunately "L" is getting a serious gang prob & there are are polygamy colonies in the area up there. Basin or Greybull wouldn't be too bad except the river towards the south thru Greybull on to almost Manderson area looks like a gravel pit. But is nice as you head towards Shell from Greybull. Just not much to do for kids in those towns & that makes for trouble for kids - esp with the gang activity going on just up the road in Lovell. I see Hyattville, Ten Sleep & Shell as basically being IN the Big Horns more than part of the basin. Don't mean to step on any toes here...

[askmak2003]

I am so happy that so many folks responded to my question. I have been using a map of Wyoming and placing the information that I have received to the area that it pertains to. I am really greatful for the different opinions and explanations to each area. It really gives you a look into the state. I have lived in many many different area, so the diversity of Wyoming is not a suprise to me at all.
I am a little disappointed at WYO2008. I realize that the area is sparse and does not keep a living standard of NY or LA, but I thought that was what Wyoming was all about. I have no disillutions about a state that is known to be a "cattle raising" and "oil producing" wind whipped grassland. I am not sure what WYO2008 expected when moving there. However, I am open to all opinions so keep them coming.

About the questions as to my training and education...
Well, I was an Army reservist for a few years, now I have been in the Army for over 14 years. I have worked in toooooo many areas to even count. I have a Associates in general education, but working on my BS in Business management (still 9 classes short). I have done everything from Batallion level Postal clerk, LPN in ICU in a CSH and as a dialysis tech (no longer keep my license), IT in satellite communications, supply supervisor at corp levels, training "NCO" (if you know military), operations NCO, S1 and S6 supervisor. Just to name a few.
OH YES..... I do know how to ride a horse.

[WyoMama]

Yeah - Wyo IS what you describe askmak2003. But is mostly rangeland, more than grasslands. Prairie is grass; range is more sage & dirt between the sage...LOL!!! If you want peace, a place to be who you are w/o MUCH judgment from othes, Wyo is your place. Wyo2008 has lived all over the world and Rawlins is not holding the candle to places like Spain and for that I feel sorry for Him (??? her??) but missing a lot of the really great part of living in Wyo. Good luck!!!! You shouldn't have trouble getting work with you background - esp w/it being military; that tends to go a long way here.

[ElkHunter]

Log on and get an account on both of these. The first one is the state website for jobs in Wyoming. It lists everything every job service office has in the state. The second website is for "State" jobs.

Something you might consider is the VA. Here in Sheridan they've always got openings and with your preference points, you'd have a good opportunity.

https://www.wyomingatwork.com/

https://egov.state.wy.us/ThankYou.aspx