BBC News – Buford, Wyoming, ‘smallest town in US’, is auctioned.
The BBC’s Babita Sharma says the identity of the new owners remains a mystery
A town billed as the smallest in the US has sold at auction for $900,000 (£568,504).
Two unidentified Vietnamese men placed the winning bid for Buford, in the state of Wyoming, on Thursday.
It includes a school house, a petrol station, a three-bedroom home with a cabin and a general store.
Don Sammons, Buford’s ex-owner and only resident, auctioned it at a starting price of $100,000. He is quitting his unofficial role as “mayor” to move on.
Mr Sammons, 60, has lived in the town since 1980. When his son moved away several years ago, Mr Sammons became Buford’s only resident.
The second oldest town in Wyoming, Buford is on Interstate 80, the main cross-country road from New York to San Francisco.
It also has a mobile-phone tower and about 10 acres (four hectares) of land, much of which is fenced, the auction house said.
The establishment of Buford dates back to the construction of the transcontinental railroad and it at one time had a population of about 2,000.
Related articles
- Only in America: Piers Morgan on Buford, Wyoming, Pop. 1 (piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com)
- Tiny US town sold at auction (abc.net.au)
- Odd Zone: Odd Zone: Smallest town in US sold for $900,000 (coventrytelegraph.net)
Hi Betty,
But still, just the thought of owning a complete town!
That certainly looks like I’ve just missed THE opportunity, doesn’t it? Well, not that I’d have enough money, though.
Happy Easter,
Pit
You certainly did! It is gone, no more, as far as buying.
I didn’t have the money either. Heheheh I wish. I read another article that said people from 46 countries watched the auction for the town online. Can you imagine!?!?! I hope you had a Happy Easter too.
I’m holding out for a medieval village in Tuscany!
Me too! Let me know if you hear of one, ok? You can grow the grapes, I’ll drink the proceeds.
Interesting what people will spend their money on isn’t it?
DS
Very interesting! How are you doing?
I am doing just fine, thank you for asking. Been really busy around the homestead, doing yard work and finishing up our pond, just spent three long days on a tractor, have a couple of more. But all and all, everything seems to be fitting up nicely and falling into place.
DS
It is a busy time of year! Everyone up here is trying to do the same in the bouts of warm we are having in between snow.
I am glad you are doing well too! I need to stop by and visit!