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Natrona County, Wyoming

Coordinates: 42°58′N 106°48′W / 42.97°N 106.80°W / 42.97; -106.80
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Natrona County
County
Natrona County Courthouse in Casper
Natrona County Courthouse in Casper
Flag of Natrona County
Flag
Map of Wyoming highlighting Natrona County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°58′N 106°48′W / 42.97°N 106.8°W / 42.97; -106.8
Country United States
State Wyoming
Named forNatron deposits
SeatCasper
Largest cityCasper
Area
 • Total5,376 sq mi (13,920 km2)
 • Land5,340 sq mi (13,800 km2)
 • Water35 sq mi (90 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total79,955
 • Density15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.natronacounty-wy.gov

Natrona County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 79,955,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat is Casper.[2]

Natrona County comprises the Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, the center of population of Wyoming was in Natrona County, near Alcova.[3]

History

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Prior to Wyoming's settlement by European-based populations, the area's stretches played host to nomadic tribes such as Cheyenne, Arapaho, Shoshone, and Sioux.

New York investor John Jacob Astor established the settlement of Astoria on the Columbia River, and sent Robert Stuart eastward to blaze a trail and lay the foundation of a string of trading posts. Stuart documented the South Pass Route through the Continental Divide, near the SW corner of present-day Natrona County. Stuart's company erected the first hut in the area in 1812, near present-day Bessemer Bend.

In 1840, Father Pierre-Jean De Smet began preaching the Christian teaching to this area's indigenous peoples. He carved his name on Independence Rock and called it The Register of the Desert. Later explorers who inscribed the rock include John C. Frémont (1843), who explored the country along the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers.[4]

The first Euro-American settlement occurred in the Casper area in the late 19th century.[5] Natrona County was created by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 9, 1888, and it was organized in 1890.[6] The land for Natrona County was annexed from Carbon County.

Natrona County was named for the deposits of natron found in the area.[7] According to George Mitchell, first mayor of Casper and member of the organization commission for Natrona County, the name was first suggested "by my old friend the late Cy Iba, who at one time owned the soda lakes."[8] In 1909, Natrona County gained land from Fremont County. The boundaries were adjusted slightly in 1911 and 1931, and at that point the county gained its present outline.

Geography

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Badlands of Hell's Half-Acre, Natrona County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 5,376 square miles (13,920 km2), of which 5,340 square miles (13,800 km2) is land and 35 square miles (91 km2) (0.7%) is water.[9]

Geographic features

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Transit

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Geology

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Natrona County derives its name from the vast deposits of the mineral Natron found within the county. Of the 18 million tons of Natron consumed by American industry annually 17 Million tons is mined in Wyoming due to it purity.[10]

National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,094—
19001,78563.2%
19104,766167.0%
192014,635207.1%
193024,27265.8%
194023,858−1.7%
195031,43731.8%
196049,62357.8%
197051,2643.3%
198071,85640.2%
199061,226−14.8%
200066,5338.7%
201075,45013.4%
202079,9556.0%
2023 (est.)79,941[11]0.0%
US Decennial Census[12]
1870–2000[13] 2010–2020[1][14]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] of 2000, there were 66,533 persons, 26,819 households, and 17,754 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 29,882 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.15% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 4.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of German, 11.6% English, 11.3% American and 11.2% Irish ancestry.

There were 26,819 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% 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 2.95.

The county population contained 26.00% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,619, and the median income for a family was $45,575. Males had a median income of $33,524 versus $21,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,913. About 8.70% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 75,450 people, 30,616 households, and 19,714 families in the county.[16] The population density was 14.1 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 33,807 housing units at an average density of 6.3 units per square mile (2.4 units/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.9% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 27.2% were German, 15.2% were Irish, 13.2% were English, and 10.7% were American.[18]

Of the 30,616 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 36.8 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $50,936 and the median income for a family was $62,859. Males had a median income of $47,610 versus $30,664 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,235. About 5.4% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Communities

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Cities

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  • Casper (county seat and largest municipality)

Towns

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Unincorporated areas

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Census-designated places

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Other communities

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Politics

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Like almost all of Wyoming, Natrona is a heavily Republican county. It is rather conservative for an urban county, having gone Republican in all but three elections since 1944. No Democratic presidential candidate has won forty percent of the county's vote since Lyndon Johnson garnered 52 percent in his 1964 landslide against Barry Goldwater. Bill Clinton did win a 100-vote plurality in the 1992 election due to a significant third-party vote. In 2024, Donald Trump received 72.7% of the vote, the county's highest vote percentage for any presidential candidate since Wyoming statehood in 1890.[20]

United States presidential election results for Natrona County, Wyoming[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 24,671 72.73% 8,337 24.58% 913 2.69%
2020 25,271 71.79% 8,530 24.23% 1,401 3.98%
2016 23,552 70.62% 6,577 19.72% 3,219 9.65%
2012 22,132 68.37% 8,961 27.68% 1,280 3.95%
2008 21,906 65.85% 10,475 31.49% 886 2.66%
2004 21,512 67.08% 9,863 30.76% 693 2.16%
2000 18,439 64.95% 8,646 30.46% 1,303 4.59%
1996 13,182 46.72% 11,240 39.84% 3,793 13.44%
1992 9,717 35.46% 9,817 35.83% 7,866 28.71%
1988 14,005 59.63% 9,148 38.95% 334 1.42%
1984 18,488 69.86% 7,598 28.71% 378 1.43%
1980 16,801 62.99% 7,111 26.66% 2,760 10.35%
1976 13,761 60.83% 8,640 38.19% 220 0.97%
1972 15,649 70.49% 6,514 29.34% 37 0.17%
1968 10,679 57.19% 5,900 31.59% 2,095 11.22%
1964 10,135 47.58% 11,167 52.42% 0 0.00%
1960 11,809 56.74% 9,002 43.26% 0 0.00%
1956 10,796 62.56% 6,462 37.44% 0 0.00%
1952 10,663 63.87% 6,021 36.06% 11 0.07%
1948 5,341 46.01% 6,183 53.26% 84 0.72%
1944 5,196 51.52% 4,890 48.48% 0 0.00%
1940 5,555 46.49% 6,373 53.34% 21 0.18%
1936 3,810 32.00% 7,819 65.67% 278 2.33%
1932 4,368 37.87% 6,777 58.76% 388 3.36%
1928 7,141 64.78% 3,818 34.64% 64 0.58%
1924 8,267 60.10% 1,631 11.86% 3,857 28.04%
1920 2,957 66.20% 1,153 25.81% 357 7.99%
1916 912 39.19% 1,377 59.17% 38 1.63%
1912 640 45.52% 447 31.79% 319 22.69%
1908 835 63.74% 461 35.19% 14 1.07%
1904 738 69.30% 320 30.05% 7 0.66%
1900 520 66.07% 267 33.93% 0 0.00%
1896 392 54.29% 327 45.29% 3 0.42%
1892 194 55.91% 0 0.00% 153 44.09%

Natrona County is governed by a commission, based in the county seat of Casper. The five-member board consists of commissioners, elected to staggered four-year terms. Current commissioners are:

Education

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Natrona County School District Number 1 is the school district for the entire county.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts".
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  4. ^ History of Natrona County (accessed 11 January 2019)
  5. ^ "Email Validation". Newedc.net. Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Long, John H., ed. (2004). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  7. ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  8. ^ Seely-Webb, Francis (February 15, 1953). "First Mayor Tells of Casper's Youth" (Fee required). Casper Star-Tribune. p. 140. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "Programs: Energy and Minerals: Mining and Minerals: About: Wyoming | Bureau of Land Management".
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  13. ^ "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  14. ^ 2020 Census, US Census Bureau, Natrona County, Wyoming Profile
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c "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.
  17. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ a b Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Natrona County, WY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list
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42°58′N 106°48′W / 42.97°N 106.80°W / 42.97; -106.80

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