Sundance
Population ~1,200 · Crook County
Gave its name to the Sundance Kid. County seat of Crook County, the least populated county in Wyoming. Devils Tower National Monument is nearby, but most tourists blow through on I-90 without stopping.
~1,200
Population
$35,000-$42,000
Median Income
$150,000-$200,000
Median Home Price
County government
Key Industry
The Challenge
Sundance is a county seat slowly losing the population that justifies its services. Crook County has only ~7,500 people across 2,860 square miles. Young people leave because there are no professional jobs. Without intervention, Sundance follows the path of hundreds of Great Plains towns: gradual decline.
~1,200
Population
$35,000-$42,000
Median Income
~12-16%
Poverty Rate
BHC's Role in Sundance
How Seed Foundation and the Black Hills Consortium are investing in Sundance's future.
'Outlaw Town' branding — leverage the Sundance Kid story for marketing
Devils Tower proximity — market as basecamp for outdoor recreation
Seed Academy partnership — AI literacy and STEM for Crook County schools
Micro-coworking — small shared workspace in renovated downtown building
I-90 advantage — direct interstate access for visibility and accessibility
Projected Impact by Year 5
Conservative projections based on the Tulsa Remote model and BHC's base case financials.
5-8
BHC Jobs
100-120
Relocations
$4.0M
Economic Impact (5yr)
38-47
New Students
What makes Sundance unique
Adding 100 households to a town of 1,200 is 10%+ population increase. At Wyoming's $16K/student, 30 new students means ~$500K in new annual school funding.
School District
Crook County School District #1
Current enrollment: ~250-350 students (county-wide)
Projected new students by Year 5: 38-47
Wyoming funds ~$16,000 per student — 2.6x more than South Dakota.
Housing
Median home price: $150,000-$200,000
Wyoming has 0% state income tax. Combined with affordable housing, relocators build wealth dramatically faster than in coastal cities.
“The Sundance Kid put this town on the map. BHC can keep it there. One hundred new households would increase your population by 10%.”
— The pitch to Sundance
Move to Sundance
Apply to Settle the West and start your new life in the Black Hills.