Walla Walla, WA, United States

Capital City

Living in Walla Walla means embracing the city's agricultural roots - the population of 34,060 is heavily dependent on its $100 million wine industry and iconic Walla Walla sweet onions. However, the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache, with the city government adopting a "commission" form as recently as 1911. And while the hot-summer Mediterranean climate is mild for its latitude, residents must contend with the threat of occasional damaging floods. For those willing to navigate the red tape and weather the occasional natural disaster, Walla Walla offers a small-town oasis steeped in Pacific Northwest history and viticulture.