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Vol VI Issue 54
July 26, 2011
Previous Issues
Peaceful Cheyenne, Wyoming
Attracts Retirees in Search of the Authentic American West, Wide
Open Spaces, Dry Air, Traditional Values and an Affordable
Lifestyle
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
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Cheyenne (population 60,000), so named for the
Native American tribe that once called this part of the
country home, is located on the high plains of
southeastern Wyoming, known as the Cowboy State, and got
its start as a hub for the Union Pacific railroad in the
1860s. Now the state capital, Cheyenne is a
respectable and unassuming place with traditional values
and sensible people. In its early days, though,
scallywags, gamblers, scavengers and prostitutes were
prevalent, trying to scratch out a living in the only
bit of civilization for miles around. Even today,
Cheyenne is fairly isolated, the first stop on long,
lonely roads that head west to Laramie (50 miles) and
north to Casper (185 miles), although fun Fort Collins,
Colorado is just 40 miles south. Cheyenne
appeals to people looking for a safe, friendly Western
city where the living is clean, affordable and low
key. Of the population, 38% is age 45 or
better.
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The cost-of-living is 13% below the national average, and the
median home price is $165,000. All kinds of homes are
available, from little box houses to custom built residences (as
well as town homes and condominiums). The
city has its upscale neighborhoods, but most areas are quietly
middle class with tidy houses and well-tended yards.
The economic underpinnings are government, the railroad and the
military (F.E. Warren Air Force Base is located here, and its
presence is felt throughout the city). Wyoming
is among the least affected states when it comes to the
foreclosure crisis, and Cheyenne has weathered the crisis well
(currently, just 27 homes are in foreclosure).
Wyoming, awash in oil and rich in minerals, is also one of the
most tax-friendly states when it comes to retirement. It
does not tax any income, including retirement income. There
is no inheritance or estate tax. Real estate is assessed at
just 9.5% of fair market value. The annual taxes on a
$165,000 home are roughly $1,075. There is a
property tax relief program for low income residents, and veterans
and people age 65+ receive extra tax assistance if they meet
certain guidelines.
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Cheyenne's pace is a mellow one. Stores are not
crowded. Traffic is not congested. Dress is casual.
The skies are often blue. The air is always clean. Values are
conservative. People say hello on the street and are down to earth (this
is not a fancy place). There is a sense of pride, individualism
and no-nonsense practicality. The population is a bit older than the
national average, and men (and women) in cowboy hats and cowboy boots are not
uncommon. This is, after all, the authentic American West, and
Cheyenne is the real deal. There is nothing phony or manufactured about
this city, and the independence that is characteristic of the West is deeply
ingrained here.
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Although it is not the most cosmopolitan spot,
Cheyenne has just about all a resident needs. The Cheyenne
Botanic Gardens has nine acres of beautiful vegetation, not to
mention 80 flower beds around town, and it has one of the highest
ratios of volunteers to staff of any botanic garden in the
nation. The Cheyenne branch of the Laramie County Library
System is in a beautiful building and has a computer center, an
interlibrary loan program, homebound services, free wifi and a
charming cafe. Laramie County Community
College has non-degree, "life enrichment" classes
available.
There are two golf courses, and the parks and
recreation department has a good selection of activities, although
not many geared just to the 55+ set. The YMCA, however, has
a varied menu of programs for people age 50+.
The majority of restaurants are chain operations (Red Lobster,
Applebees, etc.), but most tastes (except gourmet) can be
satisfied. Shopping is adequate, with numerous national
retailers (Target, Safeway, Dilliard's, Petco, Sears, Wal-Mart,
etc.) and many local merchants, often touting a Western theme
(high end retailers, though, are sparse). The Farmers'
Market is a 10-week long event that starts in early
August.
The Cheyenne Little Theatre presents a full season
of melodrama productions as well as traditional theater offerings
(and an annual masked ball). It also has a robust volunteer
program and audition schedule. The Cheyenne Symphony
Orchestra performs at the Civic Center.
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This is an interactive map.
Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and
click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom
in and out.
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Of course, what Cheyenne is perhaps best know for is its
Frontier Days, a 10-day July extravaganza of all things Western. Dating
from 1897, this event attracts people from all over the West, and its rodeo, billed as
"The Daddy of 'Em All," brings in cowboys, bronc busters and ropers
from around the country. Top country and western acts, carnivals, chuckwagon cookoffs, a
thundering United States Air Force Thunderbirds show and parades add to the
fun.
Wyoming is the least populated state in the country, and
beyond the edges of Cheyenne, empty, high-altitude prairie stretches as far as
the eye can see. Some people see an abyss; others see a
world of possibility. It is a place where one can feel an amazing
sense of wonder or an intense sense of loneliness. Two major
interstates, I-25 and I-80, connect Cheyenne to the rest of the nation (and
there is a regional airport), but it is a remote spot, despite development
creeping up from the south, and driving north, east or west leads to long
stretches of wide open country with few gas stations, spotty cell phone
service and the occasional antelope (but no jackalopes).
Laramie County Senior Services serve the needs of Cheyenne's
seniors with escort services (not that kind), movies, classes, card games,
wellness programs, referrals and congregate meals in five different
locations. A private, non-profit group, Wyoming Senior Citizens is based
in Riverton, 270 miles away, but also offers programs in Cheyenne.
The Cheyenne Transit System provides public
transportation. The standard fare is $1, and people age 60+ ride for
half fare (but are asked for a $1 donation). All buses are lift-equipped
so they are easy to board. No loud music devices are allowed, and
all passengers must be fully clothed to ride. Curb to curb paratransit
transportation is also available for people age 60+ and for those whom have
disabilities. The nearest international airport is in Denver, Colorado,
75 miles to the south (there is a shuttle service).
The primary health care facility is Cheyenne Regional Medical
Center. It has 170 beds, 175 physicians and is accredited by the Joint
Commission. The hospital also offers home health care, and in 2007,
it was ranked in the top 25% of home health care agencies in the United
States. It meets or exceeds national averages in most areas, and
Medicare and Medicaid patients are both accepted.
Cheyenne sits in a semi-arid climate, and out on the open
plain at 6,065 feet above sea level, it is one of the windiest cities in the
U.S. This is why it is so clean and has such good air quality.
Debris and air pollution stand no chance against a Cheyenne wind. Some
people do not mind the wind, but in pioneer days, it was known to drive
settlers mad. Some call the wind "Mariah." Others call
it things that cannot be printed here.
Summer temperatures are in the 70s, 80s and low-90s.
Humidity is very, very low (on the comfort index, Cheyenne comes in at twice the
national average). Winters temperatures are typically in
the teens, 20s and 30s. Snow often starts falling in October and may not
taper off until April, dumping 6 to 12 inches per month. When snow
mingles with the wind, and it does, winter weather can be rough, and it is not
a good idea to get caught outside of town in a blizzard (the interstate
highways occasionally shut down for short periods in the
winter). On the plus side, there may be wind and
occasional blizzard, but there are no tornados, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, tropical storms or earthquakes. The sun shines 245 days of
the year.
Cheyenne, of course, has its drawbacks. It is remote and windy, and
winters can be long. Water in the from of lakes and rivers is
scarce. Trees are few. Cultural amenities are limited, and there
are no professional sports. The low humidity causes a lot of dry skin.
Yet this unpretentious Western metropolis appeals with its friendly
residents, safe neighborhoods, blue skies, dry air and peaceful way of
life. Retirement here is quiet and simple, and to many people,
that is exactly what retirement is supposed to be.
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Developments in Wyoming Retirement Communities
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