U.S. Investment Immigration focuses on U.S. living news: Buford, the smallest town in the United States with a history of 147 years, was publicly auctioned for $900,000 by its only resident last year. On the 3rd, the new owner, 38-year-old Vietnamese businessman Nguyen Dinh Pham, announced a revitalization plan at the town's opening ceremony to transform it into a coffee sales center.
Located along State Route 80 in southeastern Wyoming, connecting New York and San Francisco, Buford was established in 1866 during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. This smallest town in the United States is situated at an elevation of 2,400 meters and covers 9.9 acres (0.04 square kilometers), which includes one house, a convenience store, a gas station, a cell tower, and its own postal code.
Initially, Buford thrived as a military outpost guarding the railroad, boasting a population of about 2,000 around 1900. Over time, the town gradually declined. In 1980, Vietnam War veteran Don Sammons moved to this town with his wife and son, and purchased it in 1992. After his wife passed away and his son moved out, Sammons became the only resident of Buford.
In April of last year, 62-year-old Sammons decided to publicly auction the town, attracting global attention through coverage by over 100 media outlets from various countries. Bidders from 46 different countries attended the auction, which was also held online. Nguyen Dinh Pham flew from Vietnam to Buford and ultimately won the bid at $900,000, defeating other competitors.
Nguyen Dinh Pham and his partner run PhinDeli in Vietnam, focusing on selling American coffee brands to multinational companies in Vietnam. They stated, "Now we can introduce Vietnamese coffee to Americans, which is very exciting." Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter in the world, and several retail coffee brands are not sold in the United States.
On the 3rd, Nguyen Dinh Pham announced that the town would be renamed "Buford PhinDeli Town" and launched a Vietnamese specialty coffee business targeting American consumers, planning to offer free coffee samples to visitors at the town's convenience store. State and county officials, community members, Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American guests, and media representatives attended the unveiling ceremony, where Sammons was appointed as co-mayor and also became Nguyen's coffee trade partner.
"This is an exciting century-old town. Now international travelers can stop here to rest, refuel, buy snacks, and enjoy high-quality coffee. When I bought it 20 years ago, I thought it was special, and now the whole world will feel the same way," Sammons praised Nguyen Dinh Pham's optimism and enthusiasm, saying, "He reminds me of myself 20 years ago, and I hope he can achieve his version of the 'American Dream.'"
