GOSHEN COUNTY – What do Nevada, New York, Hawaii and Wyoming have in common?
According to a recent study, they all rank in the top 10 for “most fun states in America.”
Personal-finance website WalletHub listed the Cowboy State as No. 6 overall, based on 22 metrics to determine variety and cost-effective options
for enjoyment.
With No. 1 indicating “most fun” and 25 as average, Wyoming received the following rankings:
• Restaurants per capita: Eighth; No. 1 is Vermont; Utah, 50th.
• Movie theaters per capita: First; No. 50 is Louisiana.
• Golf courses and country clubs per capita: 10th; Iowa is No. 1; Utah came in last.
• Performing-arts theaters per capita: 16th; Alaska, New York and Vermont are tied for No. 1; Mississippi is 50th.
• Fitness centers per capita: Ninth; Massachusetts is No. 1; Hawaii is No. 50.
n Access to National Parks: Second; Alaska came in first; Indiana rounds out the bottom.
n Highest state and local expenditures on parks and recreation per capita: Tied for first with North Dakota and South Dakota; Massachusetts is 50th.
While Wyoming’s overall “Nightlife” ranking is 20th, the state earned sixth place for entertainment and recreation.
Considering all metrics, analysts named the top 10 most fun states as Nevada, South Dakota, Colorado, North Dakota, New York, Wyoming, Oregon, Louisiana, Montana and Hawaii.
Locally, Goshen County Economic Development Corporation CEO Ashley Harpstreith was pleased with WalletHub’s list and said the area has plenty to offer residents and tourists alike.
“Wyoming is known as an outdoor wonderland, and Goshen County is unique because it offers world-class upland birds and migratory waterfowl, in addition to blue-ribbon lake fishing,” she said. “Furthermore, we have a small downtown with big-city amenities with the hub being focused around 21st & Main (which has) great coffee, shopping and the Visitors’ Center.
“Other amenities include a legendary movie theater and access to the gem in our valley, Fort Laramie National Historic Site,” Harpstreith said. “Our Goshen County Fairgrounds indoor pavilion offers year-round rodeo activities from the Little Britches Rodeo to the National Steer Roping Finals for both participants and spectators. We have one of the most unique golf courses in Wyoming, as we boast an 18-hole championship course with a wide-open front nine, and a back nine tucked along the river in the trees. That is why Goshen County boasts our logo – Goshen County. Big Land.
Small Pleasures.”
In 2016, the county hosted approximately 101,000 (statewide 8.5 million) overnight visitors, which equaled to $24.9 million (state: $3.2 billion) in travel-generated spending, 290 jobs (state: 46,070) and $1.4 million ($171 million) in taxes, according to GCEDC.
To view the WalletHub study in its entirety, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/most-fun-states/34665/.
