Elko, NV, United States

Capital City

Elko may bill itself as the "Heart of Northeast Nevada," but this hardscrabble town of 20,564 is a far cry from the glitz of Las Vegas. With a desert climate that can plummet to -43°F and a reliance on the boom-and-bust gold mining industry, Elko offers a relentlessly practical existence. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the local government struggles to maintain services through economic ups and downs. Yet for those drawn to the rugged charms of the American West, Elko's access to outdoor recreation and tight-knit community could be an appealing, if demanding, way of life.