Gillette, WY, United States

Capital City

This city of 33,403 people is firmly rooted in the energy industry, with nearly 35% of the nation's coal coming from Wyoming. However, the decline of coal has hit Gillette hard, forcing local officials to seek new economic opportunities. The bureaucracy surrounding liquor licenses is a persistent headache, with licenses capped by state law and fetching up to $300,000 on the private market. Gillette's climate is marked by hot summers and bitterly cold, variable winters, with the city lying in USDA plant hardiness zone 5a. Overall, this rugged, industrial outpost is best suited for those drawn to the energy sector or who can withstand the region's harsh environmental and regulatory conditions.