Bairoil, WY

Bairoil got its start in 1916 when the Bair Oil Company struck oil on land owned by sheep rancher Charles Bair. What began as a scattering of work camps on the rim of the Great Divide Basin soon grew into a tight-knit community, complete with family homes and a town hall built in the 1920s. Although Bairoil did not officially incorporate until 1980, its history as an energy and ranching outpost gives the town a grounded, practical feel.

Life in modern Bairoil is quiet, remote, and defined by the massive open spaces surrounding it. Fresh water is piped down from Abel Springs near Green Mountain, while local routines center around the town park, community events, and gravel roads leading out into the sagebrush. For anyone looking for true peace, dark night skies, and easy access to Wyoming's rugged backcountry, Bairoil offers an appealing slice of high-desert living.