Independence is a small town of about 9,400 in southeastern Kansas, very near the Oklahoma border.  The town recently received significant fame for its Independence Public Library (pictured above courtesy of the Library's Facebook page), which was named the "Best Small" library in the country by Library Journal. Part of the reason for the prize was the library's hard journey…...

Sacramento is the capital of California, located east of San Francisco in the interior of the state. It was the terminus of the Pony Express as well as the first Transcontinental Railroad. Sacramento was the major city supplying the Gold Rush that began nearby in 1848. The population was 513,000 in 2019, over a 10% increase from 2009. California State…...

Bethel, New York, is a small town and farming community in Sullivan County, with a population of 4,255 ( 2010 census).  Many small hamlets and lakes surround Bethel which include Kauneonga Lake, Smallwood, White Lake, parts of Mongaup Valley, and Swan Lake.  This was all once a very popular vacation area from the 1930's to the 1970's, which was then…...

Carson City is the capital city of the State of Nevada. The population is about 55,000.  The city is in a dry desert valley in the Sierra Nevada foothills at an elevation over 4,700'. The downtown has wide streets and some interesting 19th century buildings going back to the days when the nearby Comstock Lode was booming. The explorer John…...