Manville, Wyoming. Any and All details necessary! (Cheyenne, Torrington: ob-gyn, day care)

[Janie Roth]

I've been researching this little town for a while now, and would really like some first hand information. I'm a young writer, and have never been to Wyoming. I think Manville is where my main character lives, or will once i begin to write her.

She's a woman hurting and on the run as the book begins, and transforms into a mother in love as the book progresses. I need a small town, where everyone knows everyone's business, and a newcomer would cause a stir, especially a single mother.

I need some information, just for my own peice of mind.

- How long would it take (ordinarily) to drive from Manville to Cheyenne?
- Is Manville remotely like the town described above? If not, do you have another suggestion?
- Is there a lot of flooding? Drought? Snow Storms? Lightning? More often cloudy or sunny? Any other weather info.
- Are there any stores, diners, convenience stores or other public areas inside the town?
- On average, is each residential lot large or small?
- What would the main source of income be for a single mother?
- Child Care services available? More likely a formal day care, or an at home babysitter?
- Which school do the children attend? WHich town is it located in?

I realize this is a lot of questions, about a town with a small population. If you can answer even one, it will be most appreciated! Thanks in advance for any information provided. If you happen to be a resident of the town, please feel free to message me as i am very intrested in speaking with someone who lives in or close to Manville!

Lastly, if I am way off on my opinion of Manville, feel free to answer the questions on ANY other city you think is close!

[sixofone]

Originally Posted by Janie Roth

I've been researching this little town for a while now, and would really like some first hand information. I'm a young writer, and have never been to Wyoming. I think Manville is where my main character lives, or will once i begin to write her.

She's a woman hurting and on the run as the book begins, and transforms into a mother in love as the book progresses. I need a small town, where everyone knows everyone's business, and a newcomer would cause a stir, especially a single mother.

I need some information, just for my own peice of mind.

- How long would it take (ordinarily) to drive from Manville to Cheyenne?
- Is Manville remotely like the town described above? If not, do you have another suggestion?
- Is there a lot of flooding? Drought? Snow Storms? Lightning? More often cloudy or sunny? Any other weather info.
- Are there any stores, diners, convenience stores or other public areas inside the town?
- On average, is each residential lot large or small?
- What would the main source of income be for a single mother?
- Child Care services available? More likely a formal day care, or an at home babysitter?
- Which school do the children attend? WHich town is it located in?

I realize this is a lot of questions, about a town with a small population. If you can answer even one, it will be most appreciated! Thanks in advance for any information provided. If you happen to be a resident of the town, please feel free to message me as i am very intrested in speaking with someone who lives in or close to Manville!

Lastly, if I am way off on my opinion of Manville, feel free to answer the questions on ANY other city you think is close!

I'll help as best I can:

1. Manville is small beyond belief. Basically it's a suburb of Lusk, and Lusk has only 1200 people.

2. You should be able to drive to Cheyenne vis w WYO 85 in around 3 hours. If your character has out of state tags, she may well find herself picking up a speeding ticket in Lingle.

3. Snow is common, heavy, and deep, as are sub-zero temps. All weather is subject to sudden and drastic changes.

4. I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember a small convenience store and a church. Maybe someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.

5. Homes are on small lots

6. Your character would most likely drive into Lusk. The main employer there is the Women's prison, where she could probably get hired as a guard (and maybe meet an interesting character or two?). There are also a few motels that cater to hunters and are usually looking for housekeepers. Lusk is also the county seat, so there's the possibility of a county job. There's jobs available in the railroads and the extractive industries, but the work schedules might not suit a single mom.

7. If she wants child care in Manville, she'll most likely wind up with a kindly old grandmother-type who would probably be unlicensed.

8. The kids would all attend school K-12 in Lusk.

And yes, everyone in town would know everything about her in a matter of days. So would the folks in Lusk.

[Janie Roth]

Thanks for the info, as I said it's all appreciated.

How long would it take to get from Manville to Lusk? At the beginning, she's seven months pregnant, i believe, so the woman's prison may not be a place she's going to want to work. I was thinking a more clicheed type woman's job. Probably a diner, because she's just twenty-two, and uneducated. Would it be more reasonable to have the diner in Manville or Lusk?

Not to be a bother, but I have a lot of questions!

- Where & what is the name of the nearest hospital to Manville, for when she gives birth?

- I'm assuming most people have their own cars or mode of transportation? 4wd necessary?

Thanks !

[sixofone]

No bother at all. The "Outback" is a truckstop and diner in Lusk, which is about a 5-10 minute drive from Manville. She could probably find a waitress job there.

I think some women from Lusk go to Douglas, but I'm not familiar with the medical care in that town. There is a small clinic with an MD in Lusk, and we have OB-GYN care here at "Community Hospital" in Torrington, which is about 50 miles south of Lusk, (on the way to Cheyenne).

A car or truck is a necessity, 4WD is nice to have, but not absolutely essential.

[Janie Roth]

Okay, thank you.
Do you happen to mean Outpost, as the truck stop in Lusk? I can't find any information on an Outback, but there is (according to yellow pages) an Outpost on Main street.

[sixofone]

Yes, it is the "Outpost"-- guess I've been eating at too many Aussie steakhouses--Sorry

[Janie Roth]

No problem, you've been a great help, thanks!
If i have any more questions I'll be sure to post.

[jim walter]

I was raised near Lusk Wy and graduated from high school there in 1960. I'm not sure how you wound up with Manville on your list but Lusk might be a better choice... the previous posts are quite accurate and actually give most of the information. It could be noted that a lady of the evening by the name of Dell Burke operated a house of ill-repute by the railroad tracks in Lusk for decades. She passed away a number of years ago but her legacy lives on in Lusk to this day. Your character might weave into that part of Lusk history. I wish you well in your endeavor... while I have not lived in Niobrara County for decades its nice to know that my old stomping grounds still draw interest.

[sixofone]

Originally Posted by jim walter

I was raised near Lusk Wy and graduated from high school there in 1960. I'm not sure how you wound up with Manville on your list but Lusk might be a better choice... the previous posts are quite accurate and actually give most of the information. It could be noted that a lady of the evening by the name of Dell Burke operated a house of ill-repute by the railroad tracks in Lusk for decades. She passed away a number of years ago but her legacy lives on in Lusk to this day. Your character might weave into that part of Lusk history. I wish you well in your endeavor... while I have not lived in Niobrara County for decades its nice to know that my old stomping grounds still draw interest.

What a great piece of local lore from Jim!! The way I heard it, Ms Burke kept the brothel open well into the 1980's by owning both the brothel and the electric company. She was a very colorful figure and told the locals that if they tried to shut down her "girls" she'd plunge the town into darkness. Not sure how you'd work it into a 21st century storyline, but it might make some great reading if you could.

[Janie Roth]

This is what makes a book a story, my friends. I'll certaintly be researching this as best as humanly possible! If I can tie it in, I certaintly will.

I think I'm leaving her home in Manville, for now as it's only a short drive from Lusk, and being a woman who's hurting, she'd wan a smaller, home-ier place.

Thanks, and I hope this pans out the way I think it's going too. If so, many questions to come !