Dear HCN,
The Wyoming stories by
Paul Krza, Jeffery Smith and Hugh Jackson were insightful (HCN,
7/7/97). Having lived just north of the Wyoming border, in
Billings, Mont., for many years, I used to watch those license
plates from Wyoming pull into shopping malls and stores, load up
the trunk and head home without paying any sales
taxes.
I remember when United Parcel Service
moved to Billings. It was prepared for a city of 100,000 people,
but instead found a business area of 400,000 that included the
northern tier of counties in Wyoming.
One thing
missing in your Wyoming issue is the huge amount of wealth making
Wyoming its home. Sheridan and Buffalo have been home to great
wealth for years; Cody and Jackson Hole now have so many wealthy
people owning property there that one more death might once again
balance the state’s needs.
Tourism is the growth
industry of that state. And it is guarded jealously. While in Cody,
try and find a road sign that points to “Billings.” It doesn’t
exist. There is one that says “Belfry,” a border town of several
hundred and one gas station. Once they have you, they won’t let go,
it seems.
Leslie C.
Cox
Port Townsend,
Washington
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline On Wyoming’s peculiarities.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
