I just drove through Hurricane (just a few miles out St George, Utah) and saw tons of land for sale in large lots. Some were as much as 2000 acre parcels. Since it's so close to St George it would be easy to get supplies as well. Just something to look into later.
The good thing about Utah is that often offers a much more helpful community setting (people seem to be more willing to assist each other). There's also a huge need for recovery programs, which may be a good way to fund the beginnings of the city.
