Sublette County, Wyoming

Sublette County, Wyoming
Location in the state of Wyoming
Wyoming's location in the U.S.
Founded	1921
Seat	Pinedale
Largest city	Pinedale
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	4,936 sq mi (12,784 km²) 4,883 sq mi (12,647 km²) 53 sq mi (137 km²), 1.08%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	10,247 2/sq mi (1/km²)

Sublette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is a sparsely populated rural county in western Wyoming, along the Green River. It has an area of 4,883 square miles (12,650 km²) and a population of 10,247 as of 2010. The county seat is situated in Pinedale.

History

Sublette County was created February 15, 1921, with land detached from Fremont County and Lincoln County

Historically, the area was important to the fur trade, and the county itself takes its name from one of Wyoming's early fur traders, William L. Sublette. Today the county celebrates its fur trade heritage with the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,936 square miles (12,780 km²), of which 4,883 square miles (12,650 km²) is land and 53 square miles (140 km²) (1.08%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Fremont County (east)
• Sweetwater County (southeast)
• Lincoln County (southwest)
• Teton County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Bridger National Forest (part)
• Shoshone National Forest (part)
• Teton National Forest (part)

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.

Government

Sublette County is managed by a county commission with three members.

In 2011, Sublette County residents petitioned voters to approve an increase in this number to five as allowed under Wyoming law. The ballot initiative passed and five commissioners were to be seated during the 2012 election cycle.

In early 2012, another ballot initiative was presented to voters requesting their approval to decrease the number of county commissioners back to three even before seating the two additional commissioners. This second special election, held on May 8, 2012, returned the number of commissioners on the council back to the original number of three.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	1,944		—
1940	2,778		42.9%
1950	2,481		−10.7%
1960	3,778		52.3%
1970	3,755		−0.6%
1980	4,548		21.1%
1990	4,843		6.5%
2000	5,920		22.2%
2010	10,247		73.1%

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,920 people, 2,371 households, and 1,707 families residing in the county. Since 2000, however, an oil boom has increased the population by at least 1,000. The population density was 1 person per square mile (0/km²). There were 3,552 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.7% were of German, 17.5% English, 11.0% American and 10.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,371 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.30% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 28.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,044, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $21,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,056. About 7.40% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Populated places

Towns

• Big Piney
• Marbleton
• Pinedale

Census-designated places

• Bondurant
• Boulder
• Cora
• Daniel

Other places

• Calpet

Media references

• In 2007, Alexandra Fuller reported on the rising crime rate, influx of roughnecks and methamphetamine, the decline in ranching, and environmental damage associated with recent oil boom. See Fuller, Alexandra Letter from Wyoming: Boomtown Blues, The New Yorker p. 35 (February 5, 2007).

• In 1965, Berton Roueché described his wonderful trip along the Green River that set out from the Circle S Ranch in Cora, Wyoming in Subletter County with the ranch's foreman Thomas Scholebo. See Roueche, Berton, Reporter at Large: Something About a River, The New Yorker p. 105 (October 23, 1965).

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sublette County, Wyoming

External links

• Socioeconomics of Sublette County
• Sublette County Travel Website
• Sublette County Chamber of Commerce
• Sublette County Government
• Pinedale Town Hall
• Big Piney Town Hall
• Area Information