America’s smallest town, population one, goes on sale

An outpost billed as America’s smallest town has gone up for sale, complete with its own schoolhouse and petrol station, with bidding starting at an enticing $100,000 (€76,190).

For a sum which would barely buy a one-room apartment in most places — and a lot less in big cities — the purchaser of Buford, Wyoming, would get over 10-acres of land including a three-bedroom home, a garage, and a mobile phone tower.

The Buford Trading Post store benefits from regular traffic along the I-80 interstate, with Wyoming capital Cheyenne just 50km to the east, and San Francisco 1,800 km to the west.

Buford once had 2,000 inhabitants, but then the railroad dropped it as a stopping point, and locals gradually moved out. Now it boasts the rare road sign: “Buford. Population 1.”

Current owner Don Sammons moved to Buford from California in 1980 with his family. But his wife died several years ago and his son grew up and moved away, leaving him on his own.

“I am getting to the point where I’m thinking about retirement,” said Sammons, who describes himself as the mayor, adding that he had had “wonderful years” in the town. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to Buford,” he said.

The online auction blurb boasts that the property “includes the 24-hour fuel post, United States Post Office Boxes and a school house built in 1905 which is currently used as an office building”.