Weston County, Wyoming

Weston County, Wyoming

Weston County Courthouse in Newcastle
Map of Wyoming highlighting Weston County
Location in the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location in the U.S.
Founded 1890
Seat Newcastle
Largest city Newcastle
Area
  Total 2,400 sq mi (6,216 km2)
  Land 2,398 sq mi (6,211 km2)
  Water 1.9 sq mi (5 km2), 0.08%
Population (est.)
  (2015) 7,234
  Density 3.0/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website westongov.com

Weston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,208.[1] Its county seat is Newcastle.[2] It is west from the South Dakota state line.

History

Weston County was created by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 12, 1890. The county was created out of a portion of Crook County.[3]

Weston County was named for John B. Weston, who was a geologist and surveyor.[4] In 1887, John Weston and Frank Mondell found rich coal deposits north of Newcastle which caused a railroad to be built through the area.

In 1911, Campbell County was formed from portions of Weston County and Crook County. Since then, the boundaries of Weston County have been stable.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,400 square miles (6,200 km2), of which 2,398 square miles (6,210 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18902,422
19003,20332.2%
19104,96054.9%
19204,631−6.6%
19304,6730.9%
19404,9586.1%
19506,73335.8%
19607,92917.8%
19706,307−20.5%
19807,10612.7%
19906,518−8.3%
20006,6441.9%
20107,2088.5%
Est. 20157,234[6]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1870–2000[8] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 6,644 people, 2,624 households, and 1,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.0% were of German, 13.0% English, 8.9% Irish and 7.2% American ancestry.

There were 2,624 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,348, and the median income for a family was $40,472. Males had a median income of $34,321 versus $18,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,366. About 6.30% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,208 people, 3,021 households, and 1,957 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 3.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of 1.5 per square mile (0.58/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 31.7% were German, 19.3% were Irish, 18.5% were English, 6.6% were Norwegian, 6.1% were Swedish, and 5.6% were American.[12]

Of the 3,021 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 42.3 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,853 and the median income for a family was $63,438. Males had a median income of $53,095 versus $28,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,463. About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Government and infrastructure

Presidential election results[14]
Year Democrat Republican
2012 12.56% 422 83.98% 2,821
2008 19.39% 658 77.16% 2,618
2004 17.10% 580 80.75% 2,739
2000 14.67% 449 82.39% 2,521

The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Boot Camp is located in Newcastle.[15][16] The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.[17]

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated places

Other places

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Long, John H. (2006). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
  4. Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  6. "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  8. "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  9. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  15. "Contact Institutions." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  16. "Newcastle city, Wyoming." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  17. "About the Department of Corrections." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
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Coordinates: 43°50′N 104°34′W / 43.84°N 104.56°W / 43.84; -104.56

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