Wichita Falls, TX, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 102,316, Wichita Falls is a small, unglamorous outpost in northwest Texas. The economy still bears the marks of its past as an oil and manufacturing hub, but those industries have largely faded. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city has struggled to revitalize its once-vibrant downtown since the 1970s. And the climate is brutal, with over 100 days a year topping 100°F. On the plus side, the city offers a variety of outdoor recreation, from the artificial waterfall in Lucy Park to the 24-mile Circle Trail. But for most, Wichita Falls is simply an unremarkable pit stop on the way to somewhere more exciting.