Fremont County, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Fremont County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Wyoming
. It was named in honor of John C. Frémont
, a general, explorer, and politician. As of 2010, the population was 40,123. Its county seat
is Lander
. It is roughly the size of the state of Vermont
.
The county was created with land ceded by Sweetwater County. In 1890,
Big Horn County was carved out of Fremont, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties. Hot Springs County was created in 1911 from parts of Fremont County, along with a portion of Big Horn County and Park County. In 1921, Sublette County was created from part of Fremont County and Lincoln County. The boundaries of Fremont County have remained unchanged since 1921.
Fremont County was named for John Charles Frémont, an explorer of the American West, Senator from California
, and 1856 Republican
presidential candidate. Fremont County is the historical home of the Wind River Indian Reservation
, home of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans
.
, the county has a total area of 9266 square miles (23,998.8 km²), of which 9182 square miles (23,781.3 km²) is land and 84 square miles (217.6 km²) (0.90%) is water. Elevations and climate range from desert at Boysen State Park to glaciers at 13804 feet (4,207.5 m) Gannett Peak
, the highest point not only in Wyoming but in the three Central Rockies states of Wyoming
, Idaho
and Montana
. It is the second largest county in land size (after Sweetwater County, WY) in the six Rocky Mountain States. The southern end of the county is traversed by the Oregon Trail
and in the northwest corner lies Dubois
, a gateway town for Yellowstone National Park
and Grand Teton National Park
. Although the county seat is Lander, the largest community is Riverton
, home of Central Wyoming College
and the economic hub of the region. A large portion of the western edge of the county follows the Continental Divide
at the crest of the Wind River Range
of the Rocky Mountains
, known for its vast wilderness areas and home of the largest glaciers in the American Rocky Mountains
.
Although the Bridger National Forest and the Teton National Forest have been administratively combined into the Bridger-Teton National Forest
, it is important to note that the county contains portions of both original forests.
of 2000, there were 35,804 people, 13,545 households, and 9,481 families residing in the county. The population density
was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White
, 0.12% Black
or African American
, 19.68% Native American
, 0.30% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 1.16% from other races
, and 2.21% from two or more races. 4.37% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 22.1% were of German, 9.9% English
, 8.2% Irish
and 6.3% American
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 13,545 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples
living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,503, and the median income for a family was $37,983. Males had a median income of $30,620 versus $19,802 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,519. About 13.30% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
. The Wyoming Department of Health
Wyoming Life Resource Center (WLRC), originally the Wyoming State Training School (WSTS), a residential facility for physically and mentally disabled people, is located in Lander
. Both facilities were 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wyoming
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...
. It was named in honor of John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
, a general, explorer, and politician. As of 2010, the population was 40,123. Its 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....
is Lander
Lander, Wyoming
Lander is a city in, and the county seat of, Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. Named for transcontinental explorer Frederick W. Lander, Lander is located in central Wyoming, along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River. A tourism center with several dude ranches nearby, Lander is located just...
. It is roughly the size of the state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
History
Fremont County was created on March 5, 1884 by the legislature of the Wyoming TerritoryWyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
The county was created with land ceded by Sweetwater County. In 1890,
Big Horn County was carved out of Fremont, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties. Hot Springs County was created in 1911 from parts of Fremont County, along with a portion of Big Horn County and Park County. In 1921, Sublette County was created from part of Fremont County and Lincoln County. The boundaries of Fremont County have remained unchanged since 1921.
Fremont County was named for John Charles Frémont, an explorer of the American West, Senator from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and 1856 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidential candidate. Fremont County is the historical home of the Wind River Indian Reservation
Wind River Indian Reservation
Wind River Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans in the central western portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming...
, home of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited 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 county has a total area of 9266 square miles (23,998.8 km²), of which 9182 square miles (23,781.3 km²) is land and 84 square miles (217.6 km²) (0.90%) is water. Elevations and climate range from desert at Boysen State Park to glaciers at 13804 feet (4,207.5 m) Gannett Peak
Gannett Peak
Gannett Peak is the highest peak in the U.S. state of Wyoming and straddles the boundary between Fremont and Sublette Counties along the Continental Divide.- Overview :...
, the highest point not only in Wyoming but in the three Central Rockies states of Wyoming
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...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. It is the second largest county in land size (after Sweetwater County, WY) in the six Rocky Mountain States. The southern end of the county is traversed by the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and in the northwest corner lies Dubois
Dubois, Wyoming
Dubois is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming. The population was 962 at the 2000 census, although it nearly doubles in the summer with many part-time residents.-Geography:...
, a gateway town for Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
and Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
. Although the county seat is Lander, the largest community is Riverton
Riverton, Wyoming
Riverton is a city in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It is both the largest city in the county and the largest within the historical boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The city's population was 9,310 at the 2000 census...
, home of Central Wyoming College
Central Wyoming College
Central Wyoming College is a comprehensive American community college located in Riverton, Wyoming. The college includes off-campus sites in Wyoming at Jackson, Lander, Thermopolis , Dubois and the Wind River Indian Reservation. It also provides internet classes. The institution offers 2-year...
and the economic hub of the region. A large portion of the western edge of the county follows the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
at the crest of the Wind River Range
Wind River Range
The Wind River Range , is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States. The range runs roughly NW-SE for approximately 100 miles . The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and includes Gannett Peak, which at 13,804 feet , is the highest peak...
of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, known for its vast wilderness areas and home of the largest glaciers in the American Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
.
Adjacent counties
- Hot Springs County, Wyoming - north
- Washakie County, Wyoming - northeast
- Natrona County, Wyoming - east
- Carbon County, WyomingCarbon County, WyomingCarbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of 2010, the population was 15,885. Its county seat is Rawlins.- History :Carbon County was organized in 1868....
- southeast - Sweetwater County, Wyoming - south
- Sublette County, Wyoming - west
- Teton County, WyomingTeton County, WyomingTeton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of 2010, the population was 21,294. Its county seat is Jackson. Teton County contains the affluent Jackson Hole skiing area...
- northwest - Park County, Wyoming - northwest
National protected areas
- Bridger National ForestBridger National ForestBridger National Forest was first established by the U.S. Forest Service on July 1, 1911 in Wyoming with from part of Bonneville National Forest. On May 14, 1923 Bridger was transferred Wyoming National Forest, and the name was discontinued. On March 10, 1943 Wyoming was renamed Bridger...
(part) - Shoshone National ForestShoshone National ForestShoshone National Forest is the first federally protected National Forest in the United States and covers nearly 2.5 million acres in the state of Wyoming. Originally a part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve, the forest was created by an act of Congress and signed into law by U.S....
(part) - Teton National ForestTeton National ForestTeton National Forest was first established by the General Land Office on February 22, 1897 as the Teton Forest Reserve with . A commission was established in 1896 to plan for a system of national forest reserves, recommending an expansion of the territory protected by the Yellowstone Timberland...
(part)
Although the Bridger National Forest and the Teton National Forest have been administratively combined into the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Bridger-Teton National Forest is located in western Wyoming, United States. The forest consists of , making it the second largest National Forest outside of Alaska. The forest stretches from Yellowstone National Park, along the eastern boundary of Grand Teton National Park and from there rides...
, it is important to note that the county contains portions of both original forests.
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 35,804 people, 13,545 households, and 9,481 families residing in the county. 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 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White
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...
, 0.12% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 19.68% Native American
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...
, 0.30% Asian
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...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
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...
, 1.16% 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 2.21% from two or more races. 4.37% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 22.1% were of German, 9.9% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 6.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 13,545 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% 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, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,503, and the median income for a family was $37,983. Males had a median income of $30,620 versus $19,802 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 county was $16,519. About 13.30% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Farm is located in RivertonRiverton, Wyoming
Riverton is a city in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It is both the largest city in the county and the largest within the historical boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The city's population was 9,310 at the 2000 census...
. The Wyoming Department of Health
Wyoming 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:...
Wyoming Life Resource Center (WLRC), originally the Wyoming State Training School (WSTS), a residential facility for physically and mentally disabled people, is located in Lander
Lander, Wyoming
Lander is a city in, and the county seat of, Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. Named for transcontinental explorer Frederick W. Lander, Lander is located in central Wyoming, along the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River. A tourism center with several dude ranches nearby, Lander is located just...
. Both facilities were 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.
Towns
- DuboisDubois, WyomingDubois is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming. The population was 962 at the 2000 census, although it nearly doubles in the summer with many part-time residents.-Geography:...
- HudsonHudson, WyomingHudson is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 407 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hudson is located at ....
- PavillionPavillion, WyomingPavillion is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 165 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pavillion is located at ....
- ShoshoniShoshoni, WyomingShoshoni is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 635 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the Shoshone tribe of Native Americans, most of whom live on the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation...
Census-designated places
|
Ethete, Wyoming Ethete is a census-designated place in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,455 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ethete is located at .... Fort Washakie, Wyoming Fort Washakie is a census-designated place in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States, within the Wind River Indian Reservation and along U.S. Route 287... Jeffrey City, Wyoming Jeffrey City is a census-designated place and former uranium mining boomtown located in Fremont County, in the central part of the U.S. state of Wyoming. The town is famous in Wyoming and the American West as symbol of a boomtown that went “bust” very quickly, as the mine was shut down in 1982... Johnstown, Wyoming Johnstown is a census-designated place in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 236 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Johnstown is located at .... |
Other places
- KinnearKinnear, WyomingKinnear is an unincorporated community in central Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along the concurrent U.S. Highways 26 and 287 at their intersection with Wyoming Highway 133, northwest of the city of Riverton and north of the city of Lander, the county seat of Fremont County. Its...
- Kotey PlaceKotey Place, WyomingKotey Place is an unincorporated community in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States.- Geography :Kotey Place is located at . It lies 5449 feet above sea level....
- LysiteLysite, WyomingLysite is an unincorporated community in northeastern Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along local roads northeast of the city of Lander, the county seat of Fremont County. Its elevation is 5,276 feet . Although Lysite is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP...
- Miner's DelightMiner's Delight, WyomingHamilton City, or Miner's Delight as it was commonly known, was a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States, during the mining boom in the 19th century. Today a few buildings stand as a reminder of an era gone past in Wyoming history.-Demographics:...
- St. StephensSt. Stephens, WyomingSt. Stephens is an unincorporated town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It is home to the St. Stephens Indian Mission....
- South Pass CitySouth Pass City, WyomingSouth Pass City is an unincorporated community in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. It is located 2 miles south of the intersection of highways 28 and 131. The closest town is Atlantic City...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Fremont County, WyomingNational Register of Historic Places listings in Fremont County, WyomingThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Fremont County, Wyoming.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States...