Torrington, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Torrington is a city in and the county seat
of Goshen County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 5,776 at the 2000 census
. Torrington is the home of Eastern Wyoming College
.
Former Governor Stanley K. Hathaway
was born in Nebraska
but resided in Torrington.
, Connecticut
. Originally a watering and coaling station for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), the blossoming town soon became the main source of civilization for nearby residents. With a post office (established in 1889) and several businesses, it became a central area of trade for that region of Wyoming. The town site was surveyed April 21, 1900 by Ashland B. Smith of the Lincoln Land Company of Nebraska, and in June the land was sold to its residents for one dollar by the president of the real estate extension of the CB&Q. Torrington was incorporated in 1908.
When Goshen County was created from part of the northern end of Laramie County in 1911, Torrington and Lingle
competed for the title of county seat. Torrington was eventually selected after its residents raised enough money to build the courthouse, which was constructed in 1913.
The city is situated on the North Platte River
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²). Its elevation is 4104 feet, 1251 meters.
Torrington has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification
BSk).
of 2000, there were 5,776 people, 2,436 households, and 1,522 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,617.4 people per square mile (624.7/km²). There were 2,644 housing units at an average density of 740.4 per square mile (286.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.49% White, 0.31% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.65% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.47% of the population.
There were 2,436 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,136, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $31,058 versus $20,101 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,026. About 9.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Torrington Post Office.
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
is located in unincorporated
Goshen County, near Torrington. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death. The grand opening and ribbon cutting occurred on January 6, 2010.
. Zoned campuses include Lincoln Elementary School (grades K-2), Trail Elementary School (grades 3-5), Torrington Middle School (grades 6-8), Torrington High School (grades 9-12).
Other towns included in the Goshen County School District are Lingle, LaGrange, and Yoder.
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 Goshen County, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,776 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...
. Torrington is the home of Eastern Wyoming College
Eastern Wyoming College
Eastern Wyoming College is a community college in Torrington, Wyoming. The college also has outreach centers serving Platte, Niobara, Converse, Weston and Crook counties....
.
Former Governor Stanley K. Hathaway
Stanley K. Hathaway
Stanley Knapp Hathaway served as 27th Governor of Wyoming from 1967–1975, and as United States Secretary of the Interior under President Gerald R. Ford.- Early life and military service :Stanley K...
was born in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
but resided in Torrington.
History
The city was founded by W.G. Curtis and named by him for his home town of TorringtonTorrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Originally a watering and coaling station for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), the blossoming town soon became the main source of civilization for nearby residents. With a post office (established in 1889) and several businesses, it became a central area of trade for that region of Wyoming. The town site was surveyed April 21, 1900 by Ashland B. Smith of the Lincoln Land Company of Nebraska, and in June the land was sold to its residents for one dollar by the president of the real estate extension of the CB&Q. Torrington was incorporated in 1908.
When Goshen County was created from part of the northern end of Laramie County in 1911, Torrington and Lingle
Jay Em, Wyoming
Jay Em is an unincorporated community in northern Goshen County, Wyoming, United States, just below the headwaters of the Rawhide Creek. It lies along U.S. Route 85 north of the city of Torrington, the county seat of Goshen County. Its elevation is 4,590 feet . Although Jay Em is...
competed for the title of county seat. Torrington was eventually selected after its residents raised enough money to build the courthouse, which was constructed in 1913.
Geography and climate
Torrington is located at 42°4′0"N 104°10′57"W (42.066542, -104.182471).The city is situated on the North Platte River
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 3.6 square miles (9.2 km²). Its elevation is 4104 feet, 1251 meters.
Torrington has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification
Köppen 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).
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 5,776 people, 2,436 households, and 1,522 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 1,617.4 people per square mile (624.7/km²). There were 2,644 housing units at an average density of 740.4 per square mile (286.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.49% White, 0.31% African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.65% 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 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.47% of the population.
There were 2,436 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,136, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $31,058 versus $20,101 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 $16,026. About 9.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited 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 Torrington Post Office.
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution is a prison for men located in unincorporated Goshen County, Wyoming, near Torrington. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death.-History:The Layton Construction Company built...
is located in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Goshen County, near Torrington. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death. The grand opening and ribbon cutting occurred on January 6, 2010.
Education
Public education in the city of Torrington is provided by Goshen County School District #1Goshen County School District Number 1
Goshen County School District #1 is a public school district based in Torrington, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Goshen County School District #1 is the only school district based in Goshen County. It serves most of Goshen County and also extends into a small portion of southeastern Platte County...
. Zoned campuses include Lincoln Elementary School (grades K-2), Trail Elementary School (grades 3-5), Torrington Middle School (grades 6-8), Torrington High School (grades 9-12).
Other towns included in the Goshen County School District are Lingle, LaGrange, and Yoder.