Haven't been around in a while but this one is particularly interesting to me. I lived in the town of Laramie for about a year and here's my take.

The depression inducing quote earlier on is quite valid for some. There were (when I was there) 23 drive through liquor stores in a town with less than 20k people when the university is in session. They were in trouble for counting students as full time residents a few years back to get more government kick downs. I have never been in so many bar fights in my life. I am a peace loving brother to the highest degree, but if one was out at night at one of the many, many bars, it is almost certain you will encounter some sort of confrontation that will escalate to a physical level given any provocation. You can be thankful that there really aren't any shootings and problems are resolved with fisticuffs, but this seems to happen right after the first derogatory comment is made. There is rampant alcoholism and poverty throughout the town. There is very little to do most of the year as the climate is so fiercely cold. I witnessed a snow storm on the 4th of july. The winter temperatures are generally colder than what is seen in Alaska. The winds average 40 mph all day. I have felt my eyeballs freeze in the sockets. You are at 7200', surrounded by 13000' peaks (mountain valley). There's really only two ways in and out of town, and as you must go over the peaks, inclement weather will often shut you out from any outside contact for days, even weeks at a time. The roads are not plowed or salted, so make sure you've got some very nice snow tires. You'll leave them on most of the year. Restaurants will close down during these periods of snow as the trucks can't get in to deliver ingredients. The fruit you buy at grocery stores will last a day or two at best. During these blocked off periods, the drinking and fighting seem to get worse. There are not many women in Laramie, and the quality pretty low as well. I suggest importing talent. The job market is almost non-existent and most of the small businesses have been shut down by a monolith Wal-Mart near the university. There's not a lot of good recreational plants around either

Ok, now the good things. I did have quite a bit of fun living in Wyoming. The scenery around the town is amazing. There are so many amazing, unpopulated mountain roads to drive, year round skiing, rock climbing, etc, just minutes away. Hiking is incredible. Fort Collins Colorado is less than as hour away and one of the hippest towns in the nation (lots of good recreational plants there). There are countless state parks within an hour of the town, Misheewauka valley amphitheater close to Fort C. Of all the bars, we truly enjoyed the Ranger in Laramie. Huge standup shuffleboard table and dirt cheap to drink (as long as you had money from elsewhere) and this one delicious bartendress. Still pretty rough place (this is the wild west after all).

You will never see so many pickup trucks in one town. Lots of cowboy hats. Not a lot of tolerance for any culture that isn't Laramie culture. This place is years behind any civilized town in America. All in all, I had a blast out there, but I would probably shoot myself after 5 years or so of it. I guess it's a question of perspective. The only way to really know is to visit. Stay at the Ranger (they've got a hotel connected to the bar).