'Happiest' U.S. town in California

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., April 8 (UPI) -- Residents of a California town dubbed the "happiest" in the country by talk show host Oprah Winfrey say the description is apt.

Locals in San Luis Obispo, which was labeled the country's happiest city during a January episode of Oprah's show, agreed with the talk show's impression of their town, USA Today reported Friday.

"We're just a bunch of happy people," said pharmacy tech Mark Dorman, who was born in the town. "The climate's good. The people are friendly."

Oprah's appraisal of the city was based on the research of Dan Buettner, author of "Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way." Buettner used databases measuring quality of life and personal well-being to compile a list of the world's happiest towns. San Luis Obispo was the only U.S. municipality to make the list.

Buettner attributed the happiness of the town's residents to social interactions.

"The place is a landmine of social opportunities. Even introverts are happier when they're around other people," he said.