Dating in rural, remote areas often leads to putting thousands of miles on the odometer

Dating in rural, remote areas is taking a toll on gas budgets. In a state like Montana that is vast in area but not population, it's not uncommon for singles to travel hours for dates, Kristen Inbody reports for the Great Falls Tribune. Montana has 7,699 more men than women 20 to 39 years old, but in places like Garfield County, there are only 109 women ages 20 to 39—1 every 58 square miles—and only 27 women of any age heading a household with no husband present. (Wikipedia map: Sand Springs, Mont.)

People like Travis Brown have to extend their search for dating well beyond the town or county in which they live, Inbody writes. Brown met his wife Mary 867 miles away in Lincoln, Neb., and for their first date she had to travel 15 hours—including the extra time backtracking—to meet him in his home of Sandy Springs, Mont. She told Inbody, "I drove through it without even slowing down as I didn't realize it was actually the town. I had to turn around and go back. I was shocked. I feel like a town should have a stop sign at least." (Read more)