If you are anything like me, you see Laramie as a city, albeit a small one.  Forbes however must not share in that mindset as they recently featured Laramie in a list of America’s Fastest-Growing Small Towns.

The list looks at the populations of small towns (some of them larger than Wyoming’s largest city) from 2007, compared to 2010. They ranked the top 15 based on the percent population increase during that time period. By their standards, a small town is 100,000 or less, but 10,000 or more.

Laramie registered a 12.6% growth rate between 2007 and 2010, good enough for 8th place on the list of the top 15 small towns. This growth could possibly be the result of rising enrollemnt a the University of Wyoming and efforts to make sure students are counted. In 2007, Laramie had 32,227 and as of 2010, the population was 36,299.

This is not the first time Laramie has been recognized on a nationwide list lately. In 2010, Laramie was noted as being one of the coldest cities in America, and last year Laramie was named one of the greatest places to retire for individuals who fear increased taxes.

Also making the list of Fastest Growing “Small Towns” from Wyoming is Gillette (7th place, 14% increase), Rock Springs (13th place, 11.5% increase) and Jackson (14th place, 10.98% increase).

For the entire list of the “Small Towns,” including pictures of the top 15, just click here.

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