Sweetwater County, Wyoming

Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Map of Wyoming highlighting Sweetwater County
Location in the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location in the U.S.
Founded 1867
Named for Sweetwater River
Seat Green River
Largest city Rock Springs
Area
 • Total 10,491 sq mi (27,172 km2)
 • Land 10,427 sq mi (27,006 km2)
 • Water 64 sq mi (166 km2), 0.6%
Population (est.)
 • (2016) 44,165
 • Density 4.2/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district At-large
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website www.sweet.wy.us

Sweetwater County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,806.[1] Its county seat is Green River.[2] In area, it is the largest county in the state. It is in the southwestern part of Wyoming, north of the Colorado-Utah state line.

Sweetwater County comprises the Rock Springs, WY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Sweetwater County was originally created on December 17, 1867 as a county within the Dakota Territory.[3] The county was derived from land that was previously part of Laramie County. The county was originally named Carter County for Judge W.A. Carter of Fort Bridger[4] In 1869, the newly established legislature of the Wyoming Territory renamed the county for the Sweetwater River.

Also in 1869, Uinta County was organized with land ceded by Sweetwater County. Johnson County, originally named Pease County, was formed from parts of Sweetwater County and Carbon County in 1875. In 1884, Sweetwater County lost territory when Fremont County was created. Sweetwater County also lost territory when Carbon County was formed in 1886. At that point, the county achieved its present boundaries except for minor adjustments in 1909, 1911, and 1951.

South Pass City was the county seat from 1867 until 1873. At that time, the county seat was moved to Green River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 10,491 square miles (27,170 km2), of which 10,427 square miles (27,010 km2) is land and 64 square miles (170 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5] The largest county in Wyoming, Sweetwater County is larger than six states and is the eighth-largest county in the United States (not including boroughs and census areas in Alaska). Most of the Great Divide Basin lies within the county, comprising the county's northeast quadrant.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18701,916—
18802,56133.7%
18904,94192.9%
19008,45571.1%
191011,57536.9%
192013,64017.8%
193018,16533.2%
194019,4076.8%
195022,01713.4%
196017,920−18.6%
197018,3912.6%
198041,723126.9%
199038,823−7.0%
200037,613−3.1%
201043,80616.5%
Est. 201644,165[6]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1870–2000[8] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 37,613 people, 14,105 households, and 10,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 15,921 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.62% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.59% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 9.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.4% are of English, 16.2% German, 9% Irish and 5% Italian ancestry.[10]

There were 14,105 households out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 8.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,537, and the median income for a family was $54,173. Males had a median income of $45,678 versus $22,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,575. About 5.40% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.20% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 43,806 people, 16,475 households, and 11,405 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 4.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km2). There were 18,735 housing units at an average density of 1.8 per square mile (0.69/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% white, 1.0% American Indian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 6.4% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.3% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 19.0% were English, 13.0% were Irish, 7.4% were Italian, and 4.4% were American.[13]

Of the 16,475 households, 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 32.8 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $69,828 and the median income for a family was $79,527. Males had a median income of $65,174 versus $31,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,961. About 6.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Media

Hyperlocal websites

Sweetwater County is served by two hyperlocal news websites, SweetwaterNOW.com[15] and Wyo4News.com.[16] SweetwaterNOW.com was founded in February 2013 and Wyo4News.com was founded in September 2013. Both sites provide original reporting, community updates and advertising.

Print

Sweetwater County is served by four print publications: Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, The Mustang Express (formerly The Oracle - Western Wyoming Community College newspaper), The Marquee (a media and entertainment supplement published in the Rocket-Miner), The Green River Star (a weekly newspaper published in Green River) and The Sweetwater County Guide (a weekly shopper's guide published by The Green River Star).

Politics and Government

Presidential Elections Results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 71.0% 12,154 18.9% 3,231 10.2% 1,745
2012 67.6% 11,428 28.3% 4,774 4.1% 693
2008 62.0% 10,360 34.5% 5,762 3.5% 581
2004 65.5% 10,653 32.0% 5,208 2.5% 411
2000 60.1% 9,425 35.2% 5,521 4.7% 745
1996 35.8% 5,591 45.3% 7,088 18.9% 2,955
1992 30.0% 4,476 43.0% 6,417 27.0% 4,017
1988 49.5% 6,780 49.0% 6,720 1.5% 205
1984 60.6% 8,308 38.1% 5,230 1.3% 174
1980 51.9% 6,265 39.2% 4,728 8.9% 1,074
1976 46.7% 4,937 52.7% 5,575 0.6% 62
1972 58.1% 5,175 41.7% 3,713 0.3% 27
1968 36.6% 2,726 54.9% 4,086 8.6% 637
1964 24.6% 1,944 75.4% 5,969
1960 32.0% 2,545 68.0% 5,398
1956 41.4% 3,355 58.6% 4,747
1952 38.1% 3,567 62.0% 5,807
1948 31.4% 2,538 63.7% 5,146 5.0% 401
1944 31.9% 2,623 68.1% 5,599
1940 26.8% 2,439 73.0% 6,637 0.2% 18
1936 22.2% 1,797 77.0% 6,232 0.8% 68
1932 29.3% 2,043 66.4% 4,637 4.3% 303
1928 45.2% 2,528 53.1% 2,974 1.7% 97
1924 42.2% 2,119 13.7% 688 44.2% 2,219
1920 54.1% 1,744 37.8% 1,216 8.1% 261
1916 43.8% 1,287 50.9% 1,496 5.3% 156
1912 35.8% 888 36.9% 916 27.4% 679
1908 58.5% 1,299 28.7% 637 12.8% 285
1904 71.4% 1,473 22.5% 464 6.2% 127
1900 59.8% 1,101 40.2% 740
1896 42.2% 754 55.7% 996 2.1% 37
1892 47.0% 674 0.0% 0 53.0% 759

Sweetwater County was a Democratic stronghold in Wyoming until recent years. A Democratic presidential candidate has not won Sweetwater County since Bill Clinton in 1996. In 2016, Hillary Clinton managed to win just 18.9% of the vote in the county.[18] At the state level, Sweetwater County is represented by three Democrats and three Republicans in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and two Democrats and one Republican in the Wyoming Senate.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

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 2011-09-01.
  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. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  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. ↑ http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=22262
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  12. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  13. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  14. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  15. ↑ http://sweetwaternow.com
  16. ↑ http://wyo4news.com
  17. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  18. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/

Further reading

Coordinates: 41°40′N 108°53′W / 41.66°N 108.89°W / 41.66; -108.89

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