JWR’s Introductory Note:  This post is an update to a short post that I wrote for SurvivalBlog, back in August, 2005:

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A diverse local economy is of great importance when evaluating potential retreat locales. Unless you are retired or about to retire, the opportunity to find steady work pre-TEOTWAWKI is also very important. Of course, if you are self-employed or a “Work From Home” telecommuter, then this is less of an issue. These days, with the advent of Starlink Internet and affordable photovoltaic home off-grid power, you can live just about anywhere.

Depending on the scenario you envision, you should probably look for a town with:

  • A robust, growing economy.
  • A good mix of jobs in dryland farming, ranching, mining, industry, high technology, and service sector jobs.
  • City and county governments that are pro-business.
  • A “Farmer’s Market” on summer evenings and/or weekends. This is evidence of sufficient small-scale truck farming.
  • A good mix of established local businesses such as a grocery store, sewing shop, car parts store, hardware store, and so forth.
  • A high rate of church attendance. Even if you aren’t religious personally, a high ratio of church attendance equates to a high ratio of law-abiding citizens.

And a town without:

  • A single-industry economy.
  • Predominantly government payroll jobs.
  • A predominantly retired population.
  • A large seasonal tourist population.
  • A large seasonal student population.
  • Lots of bars.
  • Tattoo/piercing parlors.
  • Welfare dependency.
  • Nearby prisons.
  • Nearby military bases.

Do your homework in detail before you buy! – JWR