Man Shortage in California Wine Country Town, Census Reveals

Online, March 23, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Preliminary census results have revealed what residents of Fool's Gold, California have long believed to be true: there are a lot more women in town than men. Fool's Gold, which bills itself as The Land of Happy Endings, is suffering from a statistically significant shortage of men, and no one knows why.

Fool's Gold Mayor Marsha Tilson, California's longest-serving mayor, scoffs at rumors of an ancient curse. "People spout that 'Reverse the Curse' nonsense because a matriarchal Indian tribe used to live in the caves just outside of town," she says, "but I promise you, Fool's Gold is not cursed."

She does not offer a better explanation for the man shortage.

Because the census results aren't final, the extent of the problem won't be known for months, but Tiffany Hatcher has plenty of anecdotal evidence. Hatcher is a post-doctoral candidate in the field of Human Geography whose thesis includes a chapter on the Fool's Gold man shortage.

"Fool's Gold is every woman's nightmare and every man's dream," Hatcher states. "Every eligible man has at least two or three women competing for his attention. I know of sisters who no longer speak to each other because they were after the same man."

"It is good to be a man in Fool's Gold, California," admits City Treasurer Robert Anderson. After visiting Fool's Gold to audit a company owned by the town's most famous bachelor, world-renowned racing cyclist Josh Golden, winner of two yellow shirts in the Tour de France, Anderson stayed. "I'm an accountant. Not exactly a date magnet anywhere else in the world. But here in Fool's Gold, women practically stalk me. I haven't had to cook for myself since I moved here. I would've been an idiot not to move to Fool's Gold!"

Bestselling romance author Susan Mallery is surprised that more men don't do the same. Her upcoming series of romance novels will be set in Fool's Gold. "I can't explain the man shortage," Mallery says. "Fool's Gold is a terrific town with lots of beautiful, strong, intelligent women. I'm surprised men don't flock here by the busload."

"We're not a bunch of spinsters who are desperate for men to save us from a life of loneliness," insists Mayor Tilson. "We're addressing the man shortage appropriately. We want to recruit more men, yes, but we want quality, hard-working men who are going to add value to our community."

To that end, Tilson and the City Council have recruited City Planner Charity Jones, who will be tasked with attracting male-dominated industries to the quaint tourist town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Ms. Jones is scheduled to arrive on the job on April 27 and was not available for comment.

Tourism is another avenue by which the City hopes to attract men to town. Fool's Gold is known for its many festivals and parades throughout the year. The next festival will be held on April 1, which is known as April Fool's Day through most of the country but as April Fool's Gold Day in the Sierra Nevada region of California. Residents of neighboring towns such as Meadow Vista, Sierra Valley, and Nevada City pour into Fool's Gold every year on April 1 to see what new April Fool's Day pranks the city has devised.

For more information on April Fool's Gold Day events in Fool's Gold, California, or if you own a business in a male-dominated industry and are interested in relocating to Fool's Gold, visit www.FoolsGoldCA.com.