1885  

Let's hear one of the townspeople describe the place in their own words....

"Hill Valley? The best town in the west, and that's a fact. This place ain't gonna be no ghost town that's for sure! Hill Valley is goin' places! Course the dust still catches the back of your throat as you come into town. I blame them cattle drive, stirring it up 'n' all. Still, you can always get a drink in the saloon to take the taste off. Must catch you though, if you've come in on one of them trains - much cleaner than the stagecoach! When that railway line is finished, it's going to be the fastest way to travel, let me tell you!"

"Did you see the Boot Hill Cemetery as you came in? We got some pretty famous dead people buried here and that's a fact. I reckon it's spoiled some by that Delgado Mine, but i'm sure glad someone sealed it up. Gave me the chills, wondering what might be in there....."

"I might have to admit there's nothing that new fangled about Hill Valley, unless you count the new Chinese Laundry just off the square. Some of the newcomers, just in from Irelandor other parts of Europe, why, they're amazed by that. I've seen them drop their jaws in wonderment at the sight of the barber shop - reckon they ain't seen on outside of Chicago!"

"We've got plenty of other amenities too. A general store - they just bought in some of that new fangled barbed wire, if you need to fence your homestead. There's a newspaper office, the Marshal's office and even .... a post office. Saw that new blacksmith coming out of there, rubbing his hands with glee, like he'd just written to his sweetheart or something. Maybe she'll be at Saturdays festival. That's when they get the new clock face you know - then what a sight the Courthouse Square will be!"

"Course, I like it already. Nothing finer than seeing the stars and stripes on a clean flag pole and it's right up to date - thirty eight stars on the flag. Took time to get a new one though, on the account of Buford Tannen burning the last one, the scum."

"That Wells Fargo building looks mighty fine and when they finish the Essex Theatre - well, that's the place that'll be the center of town. Oh i know that old barn's there, and that burnt out cottage but things are changing around here so fast, I don't reckon they'll be there much longer. I'm not sure about the clientele in that Palace Saloon - but I think it looks great."

"Yep, I can see great things ahead for Hill Valley sir, great things. Once the Marshal gets rid of some of the local rabble - 'specially Mad Dog Tannen, even though he's brought me some business - I reckon our town's going to be one of the busiest in the West! Now then sir, what sort of coffin would you like? I got one here that was never used.... I can give you a good price!"