Buford, Wyoming: The U.S. Town That Was Legally Owned by a Single Person
In a world where owning a house, a plot of land, or even a business can be a lifelong dream for many, the idea of owning an entire town seems straight out of a movie. But in Buford, Wyoming, that dream became a reality for one man.
For years, Don Sammons was the sole resident of the nation’s smallest town, a place so remote and unique that it drew curious attention from around the globe. So how did one man come to own this town?
A Town of One
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Buford, Wyoming, had a long history that led to it becoming a one-man operation. It was initially a railroad stop founded in the mid-1800s, serving as a bustling hub for travelers and settlers. At its peak, the town was home to approximately 2,000 residents, all of whom thrived as part of a growing Western frontier.
By the late 20th century, the town was on the brink of becoming a ghost town. The railroad had stopped making stops, and many of its residents left.
In 1980, Don Sammons and his wife, Terry, moved to Buford in search of a quieter, more expansive life. Over the years, Don managed the local trading post, gas station, and post office, handling all aspects of the operations. However, when his wife passed away and his son moved on, the town’s population dropped to one. Don became the entire town’s mayor, postmaster, storekeeper, and caretaker.
A Historic Sale
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In 2012, after years of living in this self-sufficient town, Sammons decided it was time for a new chapter. He put Buford up for sale, and in a move that would surprise many, the town sold at auction for $900,000. The buyer? A Vietnamese entrepreneur named Nguyen Dinh Pham.
Pham, who acquired a fortune through importing products, including canned food and motor oil, saw potential in Buford and purchased the town with plans to turn it into a business venture, starting with a coffee empire.
Driven by the idea of bringing Vietnamese coffee to the American market, he aimed to use Buford’s strategic location to market his products to travelers passing through.
The Legacy of Buford
While the town was physically small, the idea of owning it was anything but. Sammons had taken a unique pride in Buford’s status as the smallest town in the United States. He’d gone so far as to promote its quirky attributes on billboards to make sure every passing traveler knew about the odd little town with a population of one.
Sammons turned Buford into something of a tourist attraction by attracting visitors who marveled at the town’s claim to fame. But despite its charm, the logistics of living alone in such a small, isolated place wore on him.
When Pham came into the picture, Sammons was ready to move on, and Buford was ready for a new chapter. After the sale, Sammons planned to move closer to his son in Colorado.
A New Direction
Under Pham’s ownership, Buford began to change. He turned the small trading post into a spot where people could sample Vietnamese coffee. Pham imported coffee directly from Vietnam to build a brand that would appeal to coffee lovers across the U.S.
The town’s small size and unique backstory were perfect for Pham to tell his own story while promoting his coffee. But his decision to buy Buford also marked something more symbolic.
Sammons, a Vietnam War veteran, had lived a life steeped in American history. Pham, on the other hand, came from the same country that had been at odds with the U.S., yet here they were, both drawn to the same piece of land.
Buford Today
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Buford may no longer have a population of one, but it’s still a place that catches the eye. Pham’s PhinDeli coffee business is now a coffee stopover along I-80 and a curious destination for travelers and locals alike. As the business grows, who knows what future adventures Buford will be part of?