Inyo, Mono score high on amenities index

There are 3,111 counties in the contiguous United States, according to Christopher Ingraham at the Washington Post. He recently wrote that Ventura County, Calif., is the absolute most desirable place to live in America, at least according to the “natural amenities index” developed by the federal government in the late-1999s.

The natural amenities index is a measure of the physical characteristics of a county area, such as scenery and climate, that enhance the location as a place to live. The index combines “six measures of climate, topography, and water area that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says include mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water.

According to the USDA “Natural amenities pertain to the physical rather than the social or economic environment.”

Alaska and Hawaii are not listed in the index.

Counties in California and Colorado were top-listed, while the Great Lakes region was not. The lowest rankings are around the Minnesota/North Dakota border region. Needless to say, many Minnesotans are not happy about the survey results.

Californians, on the other hand, have plenty to be happy about. Every single one of the 10 highest-ranked counties is found in California. In fact, California overwhelmingly had the most desirable counties of all the states ranked in the index, with Mono County ranked 16 and Inyo County ranked 35. Those of us that live and work here are clearly fortunate to be able to do so—and frankly, most of us know it.

Another interesting note: using the index, other researchers found that “religiosity” of people living in more desirable counties with highly rated natural beauty is far less than those in “less desirable” places. Apparently God is outmatched by the Great Outdoors.