Chugwater, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Chugwater is a town in Platte County, Wyoming
, in the United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the town population was 244.
The former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
, Harold Hellbaum
(1926–2007) farmed and ranched in Chugwater. He served in the state legislature from 1963–1977, his last term as Speaker.
hunt. According to this narrative, a chief was disabled during the hunt and his son took charge of the hunt or "buffalo jump
". Under his direction, hunters drove the bison over nearby cliffs; when the animals reached the ground below, a sound of "chugging" was heard by the hunters. The story concludes with an etymology: since a stream was near the base of the cliffs, the site of the stampede has been called "the place" or "water at the place where the buffalo chug.".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²), all of it land.
Chugwater is located in a valley with steep claystone bluffs to the north and west. Chugwater Creek
runs through the middle of the valley and is the town's namesake.
of 2000, there were 244 people, 94 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density
was 80.0 people per square mile (30.9/km²). There were 120 housing units at an average density of 39.3 per square mile (15.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90% White, 0.41% Native American, 0.82% from other races
, and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.92% of the population and not a single African American in the town.
There were 94 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $24,688 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,609. About 27.9% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 28.6% of those sixty five or over.
. Chugwater School, a K-12 campus, serves the town.
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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of 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...
, the town population was 244.
History
In a 2005 promotion to attract new people to the town, building lots were offered for $100 provided the new owner built a house within a year and lived in it for at least 2 years.The former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
Wyoming House of Representatives
The Wyoming House of Representatives is the lower house of the Wyoming State Legislature. There are 60 Representatives in the House, representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state, each with a population of at least 9,000. The House convenes at the Wyoming...
, Harold Hellbaum
Harold Hellbaum
Harold Hellbaum was a prominent farmer, rancher, and businessman in Platte County near Wheatland north of Cheyenne who was a Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1963-1977...
(1926–2007) farmed and ranched in Chugwater. He served in the state legislature from 1963–1977, his last term as Speaker.
Etymology
Some historians hold that the name "Chugwater" is derived from a Mandan account of a bisonAmerican Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
hunt. According to this narrative, a chief was disabled during the hunt and his son took charge of the hunt or "buffalo jump
Buffalo jump
A buffalo jump is a cliff formation which North American Indians historically used in mass killings of plains bison. Hunters herded the bison and drove them over the cliff, breaking their legs and rendering them immobile. Tribe members waiting below closed in with spears and bows to finish the kills...
". Under his direction, hunters drove the bison over nearby cliffs; when the animals reached the ground below, a sound of "chugging" was heard by the hunters. The story concludes with an etymology: since a stream was near the base of the cliffs, the site of the stampede has been called "the place" or "water at the place where the buffalo chug.".
Geography
Chugwater is located at 41°45′21"N 104°49′32"W (41.755797, -104.825482).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 town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²), all of it land.
Chugwater is located in a valley with steep claystone bluffs to the north and west. Chugwater Creek
Chugwater Creek
Chugwater Creek is a tributary of the Laramie River, long, in southeastern Wyoming in the United States.It rises in the Laramie Mountains in eastern Albany County, northeast of Laramie. It flows northeast, emerging from the mountains and flowing past Chugwater, where it turns north-northwest,...
runs through the middle of the valley and is the town's namesake.
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 244 people, 94 households, and 64 families residing in the town. 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 80.0 people per square mile (30.9/km²). There were 120 housing units at an average density of 39.3 per square mile (15.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90% White, 0.41% Native American, 0.82% 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 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.92% of the population and not a single African American in the town.
There were 94 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $24,688 versus $17,917 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 town was $10,609. About 27.9% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 28.6% of those sixty five or over.
Education
Public education in the town of Chugwater is provided by Platte County School District #1Platte County School District Number 1
Platte County School District #1 is a public school district based in Wheatland, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Platte County School District #1 serves most of Platte County as well as a portion of southwestern Goshen County, including the following communities:*Incorporated places**Town of...
. Chugwater School, a K-12 campus, serves the town.