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Albany named in True West top 10 towns

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An announcement eagerly anticipated for a couple of months by local Chamber officials was made public this week when Albany was named by True West magazine as one of the top 10 “True Western Towns of the Year.”

The nationwide honor recognizes communities that “exemplify the spirit and dedication of the pioneers who built and developed them,” and Albany is in company with such well-known western towns as Dodge City, Kansas and Deadwood, South Dakota, along with the number one town for 2019 – Tombstone, Arizona.

Albany ranked number nine on the list, which is featured in the February 2019 issue of True West, on news stands as of Dec. 10.

“I’m so excited we are being recognized all over the U.S.,” said Albany Chamber of Commerce manager Mary Beth Jones. “We have such a special place here in Albany, and I hope this publicity brings people from all over to visit us.”

The news release from the magazine mentions the Courthouse restoration, the stone jail that houses the Old Jail Art Center, Fort Griffin State Historic Site, and the Fandangle.

“Albany may be a small town, but it has a huge history,” said True West executive editor Bob Boze Bell. “Even more important, the residents have done a great job of preserving and presenting that history. Albany truly deserves the designation as a Top Western Town.”

Albany is not the smallest town on the list, however. Tombstone has only a population of about 1,300, as does Deadwood, and Pinedale, Wyoming has fewer than 1,900 residents.

Neither Jones nor Chamber president Ramby Anderson had seen a copy of the magazine as of press time on Tuesday afternoon, but both were hoping to have the issue in hand by the end of the week, not only to see the article, but also the full page color ad that the Chamber purchased on the back cover.

“I am anxiously awaiting the release of True West,” said Anderson, “I am humbled and honored to serve in such a distinguished community alongside too many others to mention.”

He also thanked Jones for her work since becoming Chamber manager earlier this year.

“She is doing a fantastic job to spread the word about Albany and our heritage,” he said.

This is the 14th year that True West has presented the annual Top Towns 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.

“When you are chosen with places like Deadwood and Dodge City, you know we are a place to be proud of and are definitely worth a visit,” said Jones.

After Tombstone, towns named on the list, with their populations in parentheses, are 2. San Angelo, Texas (100,702), 3. Buffalo, Wyoming (4,590), 4. Prescott, Arizona (42,513), 5. Deadwood, South Dakota (1,264), 6. Dodge City, Kansas (27,453), 7. Fort Smith, Arkansas (88,133), 8. Tonopah, Nevada (2,478), 9. Albany (2,034), 10. Pinedale, Wyoming (1,895).