Weston County, Wyoming
| Weston County, Wyoming | |
 Weston County Courthouse in Newcastle
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 Location in the state of Wyoming |
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 Wyoming's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1890 |
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| Seat | Newcastle |
| Largest city | Newcastle |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
2,400 sq mi (6,216 km²) 2,398 sq mi (6,211 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.09% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
7,208 3/sq mi (1/km²) |
Weston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Its county seat is Newcastle.[1] The population was 7,208 at the 2010 census.
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[edit] History
Weston County was created by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 12, 1890. The county was created out of a portion of Crook County.[2]
Weston County was named for John B. Weston, who was a geologist and surveyor.[3] In 1887, John Weston and Frank Mondell found rich coal deposits north of Newcastle which caused a railroad to be built through the area.
In 1911, Campbell County was formed from portions of Weston County and Crook County. Since then, the boundaries of Weston County have been stable.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,400 square miles (6,200 km2), of which 2,398 square miles (6,210 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.09%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Crook County (north)
- Lawrence County, South Dakota (northeast)
- Pennington County, South Dakota (east)
- Custer County, South Dakota (southeast)
- Niobrara County (south)
- Converse County (southwest)
- Campbell County (west)
[edit] Major Highways
U.S. Highway 16
U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Highway 85
Wyoming Highway 116
Wyoming Highway 450
Wyoming Highway 585
[edit] National protected areas
- Black Hills National Forest (part)
- Thunder Basin National Grassland (part)
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 2,422 |
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| 1900 | 3,203 | 32.2% | |
| 1910 | 4,960 | 54.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,631 | −6.6% | |
| 1930 | 4,673 | 0.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,958 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,733 | 35.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,929 | 17.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,307 | −20.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,106 | 12.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,518 | −8.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,644 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,208 | 8.5% | |
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 6,644 people, 2,624 households, and 1,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.0% were of German, 13.0% English, 8.9% Irish and 7.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,624 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,348, and the median income for a family was $40,472. Males had a median income of $34,321 versus $18,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,366. About 6.30% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Boot Camp is located in Newcastle.[5][6] 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.[7]
[edit] Populated places
[edit] City
[edit] Town
[edit] Census-designated places
[edit] Other place
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Long, John H. (2006). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Wyoming/documents/WY_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#Individual_County_Chronologies. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
- ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Contact Institutions." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
- ^ "Newcastle city, Wyoming." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
- ^ "About the Department of Corrections." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Weston County, Wyoming |
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Crook County | Lawrence County, South Dakota | |
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| Campbell County |  |
Pennington County, South Dakota | ||
 Weston County, Wyoming  |
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| Converse County | Niobrara County | Custer County, South Dakota |
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Coordinates: 43°50′N 104°34′W / 43.84°N 104.56°W
