The Laurent Company explained their points why they chose their location and the state.
(Their comment as why they chose it):
Size does matter and South Dakota’s population is only 754,844. McCook County’s population is 5,832. Laurent’s planned population will be somewhere between 1,250 to 4,000 people. With these numbers, we can expect to have political influence and an economic impact at both the county and state levels. We will be one of the top 15 largest cities in the state. We can build next to the interstate 90. This location is central to the United States and easy to reach by auto or air. The climate provides four seasons and the area gets over 250 days of sunshine a year. South Dakota provides excellent low interest financing for first time homebuyers through the SDHDA program. In South Dakota, there is no corporate tax, no income tax, no personal property tax and no inheritance tax. In 1992, Money Magazine named Sioux Falls, which is approximately 35 miles east of Laurent’s location, as the #1 best place to live in America. This area is still a great place to live.
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They may have several strong but somewhat questionable points. But did they ever consider of other places before choosing their location in SD? Have they thought it carefully?
a) Political and economical advantage/influence for the Deaf in the smaller-poplutated state
(true advantage and maybe the strongest point)
b) They offer low housing costs and no corporate, personal property, income, inheritance taxes
(very attractive points but there is several places do offer half of that, too).
c) May be an excellence location in the SD state on Interstate 90 and real close to Sioux Falls
(good and smart point but there is many more interstates elsewhere, too)
d) weather climate .. they said 250+ sunny days and 4 seasons per year by average
(actually, they should admit or include its long cold winter but it isn't like ND's notorious nasty-weathered climate for sure but close enough?! .. but you have to admit that it's the least attractive reason for many, absolutely)
Good and poor points. But what I actually meant to say (why chose S.D.?) and still is a big geographical reason to question here.
Say why not did they try it in Florida as a sample: Northern Florida do offer no state income tax, reasonable housing costs, low coporate tax, and few I tried to recall. But Florida surely can atract far more than S.D. and that is only one sampe here. Florida surely has a very high population that would be negative advantage for the Deaf town to be influence in its politics part. But it offers so many attractions to do and more. A better weather climate except the south beach areas due to hurricanes (lol).
Or say why not choose New Mexico or somewhere approxiate .. just think them aloud. but New Mexico they could be at more advantage, too.
Higher deaf popluation (most) do live in eastern, southeastern, far western states, and several locations somewhere in the midwest. Very low deaf population in the far north with an exception for Minnesota (Twin Cities).
Seriously, ask yourself will good numbers of deaf families/individuals would bother to move thousand miles away from somewhere far to a brand-new tiny town in South Dakota. Not many! Only small good numbers would, probably. Long shot to be a 4k to 10k population which they hope for. I know tha they will include hearies as well, but still is a long shot of a chance. More of a gamble.
I would support a "deaf town" to be established somewhere else more approxiate .. certainly not in S.D., a very middle of no-where and far north. bad geographic choice.
Very low crimes we should assume. But what about the privacy since it may be at least 40-50% deaf population in a tiny town, hmm. I wonder.
Actually there is several more deep questions, too.
There is still a mix of good and poor points on Laurent, SD chosen as the geographical location.
Again you have to ask yourself: Did the Laurent Co. exhausted all the geographical locations before they decided the final one that they chose it as that location in SD? I wonder.
I won't move there for sure .. why? My main reason is its weather climate. Also count its "middle of no-where" as my other reason.
Location, location, location. What else?
We will see and know how they fare and grow in years ahead. I only hope that they know what they're doing.
