Weston County, Wyoming

Weston County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 7,208.[1] Its county seat is Newcastle.[2] Its east boundary line abuts the west line of the state of South Dakota.

Weston County
U.S. county
Weston County Courthouse in Newcastle
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°50′N 104°34′W
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedMarch 12, 1890
Named forJefferson B. Weston
SeatNewcastle
Largest cityNewcastle
Area
 • Total2,400 sq mi (6,000 km2)
 • Land2,398 sq mi (6,210 km2)
 • Water1.9 sq mi (5 km2)  0.08%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,208
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,927
 • Density3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewestongov.com

History

Weston County was created by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 12, 1890, of land partitioned from Crook County.[3]

Weston County was named for John Weston, a geologist and surveyor.[4] In 1887, Jefferson 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.

Geography

According to the US 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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.08%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,422—
19003,20332.2%
19104,96054.9%
19204,631−6.6%
19304,6730.9%
19404,9586.1%
19506,73335.8%
19607,92917.8%
19706,307−20.5%
19807,10612.7%
19906,518−8.3%
20006,6441.9%
20107,2088.5%
2019 (est.)6,927[6]−3.9%
US Decennial Census[7]
1870–2000[8] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[9] there were 6,644 people, 2,624 households, and 1,868 families 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 1.3 per square mile (0.5/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.

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.

The county population contained 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.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,208 people, 3,021 households, and 1,957 families in the county.[10] The population density was 3.0 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of 1.5 per square mile (0.58/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 31.7% were German, 19.3% were Irish, 18.5% were English, 6.6% were Norwegian, 6.1% were Swedish, and 5.6% were American.[12]

Of the 3,021 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 42.3 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,853 and the median income for a family was $63,438. Males had a median income of $53,095 versus $28,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,463. About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated places

Other places

Government and infrastructure

Like all of the High Plains, and almost all of Wyoming, Weston County is overwhelmingly Republican. Since Wyoming statehood in 1890, it has been carried by a Democrat just three times. Woodrow Wilson carried the county in 1912 as a result of a split between the conservative incumbent William Howard Taft and Progressive ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, whilst in his two 1930s landslides Franklin D. Roosevelt became the other Democrat to win Weston County, although he defeated Republican Alf Landon in 1936 by just 109 votes.

Subsequent to Lyndon Johnson losing the county to Barry Goldwater by just fifty-four votes in 1964, no Democrat has passed 35 percent of Weston County's vote. Indeed, Bill Clinton in 1996 was the last to pass twenty percent for the Democratic Party, and his wife Hillary lost Weston – and most High Plains counties – by worse than a ten-to-one margin in 2016 against Donald Trump.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 87.7% 3,107 10.2% 360 2.1% 75
2016 86.0% 3,033 8.5% 299 5.5% 194
2012 84.0% 2,821 12.6% 422 3.5% 116
2008 77.2% 2,618 19.4% 658 3.5% 117
2004 80.8% 2,739 17.1% 580 2.2% 73
2000 82.4% 2,521 14.7% 449 2.9% 90
1996 55.6% 1,763 27.4% 871 17.0% 540
1992 48.4% 1,465 24.0% 727 27.6% 835
1988 73.0% 1,988 25.7% 699 1.4% 37
1984 83.6% 2,614 15.4% 482 1.0% 31
1980 74.7% 2,219 19.7% 584 5.6% 167
1976 65.2% 1,770 34.4% 934 0.4% 10
1972 78.5% 2,063 19.8% 520 1.8% 46
1968 63.1% 1,497 25.7% 610 11.2% 266
1964 50.9% 1,473 49.1% 1,419
1960 59.2% 1,743 40.8% 1,201
1956 64.1% 1,837 36.0% 1,031
1952 69.6% 1,931 30.3% 839 0.1% 4
1948 53.8% 962 46.0% 822 0.2% 4
1944 59.3% 1,097 40.7% 754
1940 56.6% 1,292 43.1% 985 0.3% 7
1936 47.2% 1,084 52.0% 1,193 0.8% 18
1932 35.8% 840 62.2% 1,459 2.0% 47
1928 61.3% 1,127 37.4% 688 1.3% 24
1924 45.4% 794 18.1% 317 36.6% 640
1920 68.7% 1,073 29.6% 463 1.7% 27
1916 49.9% 791 46.3% 734 3.9% 61
1912 34.4% 449 35.2% 459 30.4% 397
1908 58.5% 723 38.6% 478 2.9% 36
1904 77.7% 810 21.2% 221 1.2% 12
1900 61.9% 548 38.2% 338
1896 58.1% 451 41.1% 319 0.8% 6
1892 57.2% 294 42.8% 220

The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Boot Camp is located in Newcastle.[16][17] 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.[18]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Long, John H. (2006). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  4. Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Publ. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  8. "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. (Buckhorn, Weston County WY) Google Maps (accessed 14 January 2019)
  15. Dave Leip's US Election Atlas; 2016 Presidential General Election Results – Weston County, WY (and earlier years)
  16. Contact Institutions. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  17. Newcastle city, Wyoming. US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  18. About the Department of Corrections. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.

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