Buffalo Named a 2020 Top Ten True Western Town

Buffalo has once again been honored as a Top Ten True Western Town by True West Magazine, coming in at #3 behind Deadwood, South Dakota at #2, and San Angelo, Texas at #1.

According to a release from Jennifer McCormick with the Johnson County Tourism Association, the award is a result of collaboration between herself, Jennifer Romanoski with the Johnson County Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, and Nancy Tabb, Johnson County Library Historian.

She said the award is huge for Buffalo in gaining the attention of the European tourism market.

In the write-up for Buffalo, True West Magazine said that Buffalo embodies so much of Wyoming history with ranching, cattle rustlers and the Johnson County Cattle War listed as examples.

The magazine said much of the town’s heritage lives on in the buildings, celebrations, and attitudes of the people who live here, and those reasons were why True West designated Buffalo as the #3 Top Western Town for this year.

The top ten towns for 2020 are: Carson City, Nevada at #10; Scottsbluff/Gering, Nebraska at #9; Tombstone, Arizona at #8; Sheridan at #7; Dodge City, Kansas at #6; Fort Smith, Arkansas at #5; Prescott, Arizona at #4; Buffalo at #3; Deadwood, South Dakota at #2; and San Angelo, Texas at #1.

We have provided the text below of why Buffalo was chosen.

Buffalo, WY Honored as Top True Western Town by True West Magazine! Buffalo embodies so much of Wyoming history. Ranchers and rustlers and cattle wars. And so much of that heritage still lives in the buildings, the celebrations, and the attitudes of those who live there. That is one reason Buffalo is #3 among True West Magazine’s 2020 Top Western Towns. San Angelo, Texas took the top spot. They will be featured in the February-March 2020 issue, hitting newsstands on February 18, 2020. The settlement is often considered the birthplace of the Western novel, thanks to Owen Wister, who used what he saw there in his groundbreaking 1902 book, The Virginian. Wister reportedly spent time at the Occidental Hotel. Founded in 1880, it hosted such luminaries as Buffalo Bill Cody, Butch and Sundance and Tom Horn. The Hotel, celebrating its 141st year, has been beautifully restored. The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum keeps Wyoming’s story alive through its expansive collections and exhibits. The Johnson County Cattle War marks its 128th anniversary this year; the barn at TA Ranch where the factions fought a seminal battle is still there. The 1884 Johnson County Courthouse, built in the Italianate style and on the National Register of Historic Places. “When you speak about the history of the Old West, you have to include Buffalo,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “So much of its heritage is still there—and its legend lives on in literature like The Virginian, and places like the Occidental. It truly deserves the designation as a Top Western Town.” This is the 15th year True West has presented this annual award. Editors base their selection on criteria demonstrating how each town has preserved its history through old buildings, museums and other institutions, events, and promotions of historic resources. True West magazine is in its 68th year of leading the way in presenting the true stories of Old West adventure, history, culture and preservation. For subscriptions and more information, visit TWMag.com or call 888-687-1881.