Buffalo, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Buffalo is a city in Johnson County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 3,900 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Johnson County. In recent years, the town has boomed economically due to methane
production from the coal bed methane extraction
method used in the Powder River Basin
and surrounding areas.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,900 people, 1,718 households, and 1,042 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,104.8 people per square mile (426.6/km²). There were 1,842 housing units at an average density of 521.8 per square mile (201.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.46% White, 0.10% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.54% from other races
, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,718 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,392, and the median income for a family was $40,683. Males had a median income of $28,716 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,054. About 6.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Veteran's Home of Wyoming, an assisted living facility for veterans and their dependents, is located in Buffalo. 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.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Buffalo Post Office.
. Schools serving the city include Meadowlark Elementary School (grades K-3) Clear Creek Elementary School (grades 4-5), Clear Creek Middle School (grades 6-8), and Buffalo High School (grades 9-12).
The Buffalo Bulletin has served as the paper of Record in Johnson County since 1884. The paper is published once a week on Thursdays, and has been family owned and operated for three generations. Robb Hicks, the current owner and publisher of the paper, purchased the Bulletin from his father, Jim Hicks in 1996. Hicks owns newspapers across Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho and Washington.
Radio
, where it joins with Interstate 90
.
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,900 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Johnson County. In recent years, the town has boomed economically due to methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
production from the coal bed methane extraction
Coal bed methane extraction
Coal bed methane extraction is a method for extracting methane from a coal deposit.-Basic principles:The methane is adsorbed into the solid coal matrix and is released when the coal seam is depressurised...
method used in the Powder River Basin
Powder River Basin
The Powder River Basin is a geologic region in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming, about east to west and north to south, known for its coal deposits. The region supplies about 40 percent of coal in the United States. It is both a topographic drainage and geologic structural basin...
and surrounding areas.
Geography
Buffalo is located at 44°20′51"N 106°42′4"W (44.347479, -106.701222).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,900 people, 1,718 households, and 1,042 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,104.8 people per square mile (426.6/km²). There were 1,842 housing units at an average density of 521.8 per square mile (201.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.46% White, 0.10% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.54% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.
There were 1,718 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,392, and the median income for a family was $40,683. Males had a median income of $28,716 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,054. About 6.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of HealthWyoming Department of Health
The Wyoming Department of Health is a state agency of Wyoming. It has its headquarters in the Hathaway Building in Cheyenne.-History:...
Veteran's Home of Wyoming, an assisted living facility for veterans and their dependents, is located in Buffalo. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform
Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform
The Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform was a state agency of Wyoming that operated the state's charitable and penal institutions.-History:...
until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Buffalo Post Office.
Education
Public education in the city of Buffalo is provided by Johnson County School District #1Johnson County School District Number 1
Johnson County School District #1 is a public school district based in Buffalo, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Johnson County School District #1 serves all of Johnson County, including the following communities:*Incorporated places...
. Schools serving the city include Meadowlark Elementary School (grades K-3) Clear Creek Elementary School (grades 4-5), Clear Creek Middle School (grades 6-8), and Buffalo High School (grades 9-12).
Area media
NewspapersThe Buffalo Bulletin has served as the paper of Record in Johnson County since 1884. The paper is published once a week on Thursdays, and has been family owned and operated for three generations. Robb Hicks, the current owner and publisher of the paper, purchased the Bulletin from his father, Jim Hicks in 1996. Hicks owns newspapers across Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho and Washington.
Radio
- KBBSKBBSKBBS is a commercial radio station licensed to Buffalo, Wyoming. The station carries a classic country format, primarily originating from Citadel Media...
AM 1450 "Classic Country 1450" - KBUWKBUWKBUW is a radio station licensed to Buffalo, Wyoming. The station is owned by the University of Wyoming, and is an affiliate of Wyoming Public Radio , airing a format consisting of news, jazz, adult album alternative and classical music originating from KUWR in Laramie, Wyoming.-External links:*...
FM 90.5 "Wyoming Public Radio" - KLGTKLGTKLGT KIX 96-5 is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Buffalo, Wyoming, USA, the station serves the Sheridan area, and most of northeastern Wyoming...
FM 96.5 "KIX 96.5" - KZZSKZZSKZZS is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Story, Wyoming, USA, the station serves the Sheridan area, along with most of northeastern Wyoming...
FM 98.3 "Your Music, Your Station 98-3 The Peak"
Transportation
Buffalo is located near the northern terminus of Interstate 25Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
, where it joins with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
.
Climate
Buffalo experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.