The Cowboy State is chock-full of charming small towns. All four corners and everywhere in between, you’ll find loads of little rural areas that might seem too tiny to be full-blown communities, but they are.
One of the great things about little Wyoming towns is that they make awesome places to grow up. In fact, we happen to have the best hometown in the world right here. Sure, it might be missing some of the things more urban areas offer, but it’s a tradeoff. The most fantastic things about little Lyman, Wyoming can’t be found in the big city.
Toward the southwest corner of Wyoming, just off the Lincoln Highway, sits the best hometown in the world.
You get used to the local wildlife coming right into your backyard. Along with the beautiful mountain ranges that surround the valley, that is what you miss the most when you move away.
With no multiplexes or malls, there isn't a lot of ready-made fun just waiting to be had. That's OK, though, because kids in Lyman are good at making use of the resources at hand. Most enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, and who doesn't love tearing around a muddy field in a friend's truck?
The larger Bridger Valley area offers opportunities for a lot of outdoor recreation, plus some terrific history, too. It's where historic Fort Bridger is located, and it's where the Mountain Man Rendezvous takes place every September.
In town, TJ's is the place to hang out or get the best pizza ever. On top of being a pizzeria, it's also an ice cream parlor that serves up legendary yellow cake shakes.
Oh, and did we mention it's also a video-rental store? Multitasking is actually the secret for businesses to thrive in small towns like Lyman. Although Internet streaming is popular, it's still convenient to be able to pick up a DVD when you grab a pizza at TJ's.
With just over 2,000 residents, the unemployment rate in Lyman is pretty low - less than 5 percent. Agriculture is the biggest industry in the town.
After ranching and farming, outfitting and forestry run a close second before other, more typical businesses come into play, such as management, education, and healthcare.
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That means that cowboys aren't just a stereotype in Lyman. Rodeo is one of the most popular pastimes. If you don't compete, you know someone who does.
It's just as likely for teens to arrive at school on horseback as in a car or truck.
The thing you can't escape growing up in a small town is that everyone knows everyone - and everyone else's business. While that can be frustrating at times, ultimately the friendly, supportive community outweighs any downsides.
