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Episode 428: Turning A Boom Town Into A Real Town

Coming soon: A town.
Joshua Marston
/
NPR
Coming soon: A town.

Williston, North Dakota is in the middle of an oil boom. Thousands of workers have flooded into the town, but they're reluctant to call it home. Instead, they live in bleak rentals, often sleeping in dorm-like trailers known as "man camps."

Local officials are trying to turn Williston into a real town, where people want to bring their families. But it's a tough sell.

On today's show, we visit Williston, and we learn why one guy endures a thousand-mile commute, why a one-bedroom apartment costs $2100 a month, and why the town is building an indoor lazy river.

Music: First Aid Kit's "Ghost Town." Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/ Spotify/ Tumblr. Download the Planet Money iPhone App.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.