A dark room inhabited by 50 people, barely lit with an amalgamation of dimmed overhead lights, fluorescent signs and lit smartphones. The atmosphere is stuffy and thick, a direct result of too many occupants in a confined space. Sticky floors and a hint of stale beer serve as a reminder of where you are, yet this atmosphere provides comfort through familiarity.

“I just came back from Iraq shooting people like you!”

A small town of 12,000 people whose backbone is stabilized through its blue-collar industry.

Made up of a strong Scandinavian population, principally conservative from Second...