As the baby boom generation starts searching for the perfect place to spend its golden years, states – especially ones not typically considered havens for senior citizens – are touting their quiet communities and unblemished surroundings in hopes of grabbing a share of the retirement pie, according to Stateline.org.

Some 77 million strong, baby boomers – born between 1946 and 1964 – have been trendsetters throughout their lives, and their retirement choices are expected to be no different. Instead of beating paths to Florida and Arizona, aging boomers already are opting for unconventional, far-flung U.S. locations, primarily in the South and West.

State and local governments – vying for their share of the great boomer migration – are developing innovative ways to attract and keep this healthy, wealthy and relatively young new breed of retirees. Their hope is that boomers – with their enormous wealth and diverse talents – will breathe new life into rural communities, many of which are slowly declining as younger workers move to metropolitan areas.