Sheridan

Proximity to the Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest makes Sheridan (population 15,804) a good base for hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and fly-fishing, and the small city's European-flavored cowboy heritage makes it an interesting stop for history buffs. Soon after trappers built a simple cabin along Little Goose Creek in 1873, the spot became a regional railroad center. Cattle barons, many of them English and Scottish noblemen, established ranches that remain the mainstay of the economy. Sheridan still has ties to Britain's aristocracy; in fact, Queen Elizabeth II herself has paid the town a visit. Recently, coal mines and oil wells to the east have brought much-needed jobs and tax income to this community of 16,429 residents.