Wyoming: Soon to Boom

The latest US Census tally predicts an upsurge in the population of the Rocky Mountain West, Southwest and South, according to this Denver Post story.

Among the places expected to grow the most: two large states with great scenery, lots of empty space and room for development -- Wyoming and New Mexico.

In both states, the recent upsurge in oil and gas drilling has created a demand for more fulltime housing. That's what planners are focusing on, but they need to consider a scenario that will see a boom in second homes as well -- in such places as Wyoming's Teton County (already a huge second-home mecca), and New Mexico's Santa Fe, Taos, Silver City and Mesilla.