Laramie, Wyoming: The Gem City of the Plains

Home to The University of Wyoming, the state's sole four year college, which also offers a Doctor's Degree; the city of Laramie is nestled between some very interesting locales. Historically, an integral point for travelers on the Overland Trail as well as the Union Pacific Railroad, from the late 19th century, Laramie now lies along U.S. Highway 30 and Interstate 80. The county seat of Albany county, Laramie is just a stone's throw away from the state capital, Cheyenne, the beautiful snow capped peaks of the Snowy Range and the state of Colorado.

Sitting at 7,200 feet above sea level, Laramie is home to some beautiful scenery. Coupled with a small-town, neighborly atmosphere found amongst approximately 27,204 year long residents, the city offers plenty of opportunities for more then just college students, which during the school year, push the population forward by an additional 13,162 persons. With a median age of 25.3 years, Laramie is home to both the typically conservative nature of Wyoming residents, as well as, a younger lifestyle, which is noted by its abundant outdoor recreational activities. Such places include Medicine Bow National Forest, consisting of 2,883,943 acres of Forests and Grassland. Also, Vedauwoo, which stands at 8,000 feet, a somewhat unknown rock climbing paradise in southeastern Wyoming. Imbued with thick pine forests and aspen groves; Vedauwoo offers astonishing views from the tops of its climbs where a clear day will provide you a glimpse of the beautiful harshness of Wyoming's mountains clear down the Continental Divide to Long's Peak, an amazing 75 miles south in Colorado.

The in town amenities offer an abundance of local restaurants, cafes and shopping; perpetuated by the "Historical Downtown," whose business and buildings compliment the notion of community first. This is a community that offers hundreds of available homes, which fetch a median value of $116,400. This affordable and active community is only made more so by the diversity offered by the invaluable addition of The University of Wyoming. Ranked by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for 2006; the university provides a wide range of educational opportunities. Of the seven colleges contained within the university setting, The College of Business Department of Economics and Finance found itself ranked 10th in the nation and 12th in the world for its program in resource and environmental economics. Other colleges are: Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Law.

Today, Laramie is a small, community oriented city that although it is seeing a growth from the cultural diversity brought in by the surrounding areas, it still holds dear the notion of history and culture. Seeing the sun set behind the mountains to the east, it is easy to know why Laramie is known as "the gem city of the plains."