Johnson County, Wyoming
Johnson County is a county in the north central part of the U.S. state of Wyoming. At the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,447.[1] The county seat is Buffalo.[2] Kaycee is the only other incorporated town in the county.
Johnson County | |
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Coordinates: 44°02′N 106°35′W | |
Country | United States |
State | Wyoming |
Founded | December 8, 1875 (authorized) 1881 (organized) |
Seat | Buffalo |
Largest city | Buffalo |
Area | |
• Total | 4,175 sq mi (10,810 km2) |
• Land | 4,154 sq mi (10,760 km2) |
• Water | 20 sq mi (50 km2) 0.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,447 |
• Density | 2.0/sq mi (0.78/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
Congressional district | At-large |
Website | www |
Johnson County lies to the southeast of the Bighorn Mountains along Interstate 25 and Interstate 90. The Powder River flows northward through eastern Johnson County.
History
Johnson County was created on December 8, 1875, as Pease County from parts of Albany, Carbon and Sweetwater Counties. It was organized in 1881.[3] The county was named for Dr. E. L. Pease of Uinta County. In 1879, the county was renamed Johnson, for E. P. Johnson, a Cheyenne attorney.[4]
In 1888, Sheridan County was created from a portion of Johnson County. In 1890, Big Horn County was created from Johnson County along with land from Fremont County and Sheridan County. In 1911, the boundaries of Johnson County and adjacent Crook, Natrona and Weston Counties were adjusted to run along federal land survey lines.
In April 1892, Johnson County was the scene of the Johnson County War, a range war between large cattle outfits and small stockgrowers.
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,175 square miles (10,810 km2), of which 4,154 square miles (10,760 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]
Adjacent counties
- Sheridan County (north)
- Campbell County (east)
- Converse County (southeast)
- Natrona County (south)
- Washakie County (west)
- Big Horn County (northwest)
Major highways
Transit
- Express Arrow
- Jefferson Lines
National protected area
- Bighorn National Forest (part)
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 637 | — | |
1890 | 2,357 | 270.0% | |
1900 | 2,361 | 0.2% | |
1910 | 3,453 | 46.3% | |
1920 | 4,617 | 33.7% | |
1930 | 4,816 | 4.3% | |
1940 | 4,980 | 3.4% | |
1950 | 4,707 | −5.5% | |
1960 | 5,475 | 16.3% | |
1970 | 5,587 | 2.0% | |
1980 | 6,700 | 19.9% | |
1990 | 6,145 | −8.3% | |
2000 | 7,075 | 15.1% | |
2010 | 8,569 | 21.1% | |
2020 | 8,447 | −1.4% | |
US Decennial Census[7] 1870–2000[8] 2010–2016[1] |
2000 census
At the 2000 United States Census,[9] there were 7,075 people, 2,959 households and 2,006 families in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 3,503 housing units at an average density of 0.8 units per square mile (0.31 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.03% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.0% were of German, 15.2% English, 10.8% Irish and 7.9% American ancestry.
There were 2,959 households, of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.
24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 28.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median household income was $34,012 and the median family income was $42,299. Males had a median income of $29,271 and females $20,469. The per capita income was $19,030. About 7.20% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,569 people, 3,782 households, and 2,410 families in the county.[10] The population density was 2.1 people per square mile (0.81 people/km2). There were 4,553 housing units at an average density of 1.1 units per square mile (0.42 units/km2).[11] The racial makeup was 96.5% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 31.6% were German, 22.4% were Irish, 18.3% were English, and 6.1% were American.[12]
Of the 3,782 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 44.8 years.[10]
The median household income was $45,638 and the median family income was $58,983. Males had a median income of $40,572 and females $30,352. The per capita income was $26,753. About 5.9% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Communities
City
- Buffalo (county seat)
Town
Unincorporated communities
- Hazelton[14]
- Linch
- Saddlestring
- Sussex[15]
Government and infrastructure
Johnson County voters are reliably Republican. Since Wyoming statehood, the voters of this county have selected the Democratic Party candidate in only three national elections: William Jennings Bryan in 1896; Woodrow Wilson in 1912 by two votes and with only 37.5 percent of the total vote (due to Roosevelt's independent run that year); and Franklin D. Roosevelt by seventy votes in his 1932 landslide. FDR did not carry the county in his re-election campaigns; in 1936 Johnson was Alf Landon’s second-best county in the Western United States behind Rio Blanco County, Colorado. In the 1964 Democratic landslide it was Barry Goldwater's best county in Wyoming, and second-best in the West behind Utah's traditional banner Republican county of Kane.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 3,881 | 78.98% | 897 | 18.25% | 136 | 2.77% |
2016 | 3,477 | 78.72% | 638 | 14.44% | 302 | 6.84% |
2012 | 3,363 | 78.96% | 749 | 17.59% | 147 | 3.45% |
2008 | 3,334 | 76.57% | 908 | 20.85% | 112 | 2.57% |
2004 | 3,231 | 80.96% | 676 | 16.94% | 84 | 2.10% |
2000 | 2,886 | 81.30% | 555 | 15.63% | 109 | 3.07% |
1996 | 2,071 | 62.59% | 815 | 24.63% | 423 | 12.78% |
1992 | 1,614 | 51.30% | 656 | 20.85% | 876 | 27.84% |
1988 | 2,081 | 72.81% | 707 | 24.74% | 70 | 2.45% |
1984 | 2,634 | 81.27% | 558 | 17.22% | 49 | 1.51% |
1980 | 2,291 | 72.78% | 635 | 20.17% | 222 | 7.05% |
1976 | 2,042 | 71.25% | 797 | 27.81% | 27 | 0.94% |
1972 | 2,203 | 83.13% | 436 | 16.45% | 11 | 0.42% |
1968 | 1,737 | 73.85% | 398 | 16.92% | 217 | 9.23% |
1964 | 1,640 | 65.81% | 852 | 34.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,806 | 69.35% | 798 | 30.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 1,842 | 76.12% | 578 | 23.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 1,980 | 78.45% | 543 | 21.51% | 1 | 0.04% |
1948 | 1,351 | 66.06% | 682 | 33.35% | 12 | 0.59% |
1944 | 1,384 | 64.67% | 756 | 35.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 1,460 | 64.98% | 781 | 34.76% | 6 | 0.27% |
1936 | 1,266 | 54.26% | 949 | 40.68% | 118 | 5.06% |
1932 | 1,101 | 47.05% | 1,171 | 50.04% | 68 | 2.91% |
1928 | 1,369 | 69.25% | 590 | 29.84% | 18 | 0.91% |
1924 | 1,097 | 58.01% | 501 | 26.49% | 293 | 15.49% |
1920 | 1,202 | 69.36% | 525 | 30.29% | 6 | 0.35% |
1916 | 814 | 49.15% | 812 | 49.03% | 30 | 1.81% |
1912 | 522 | 37.39% | 524 | 37.54% | 350 | 25.07% |
1908 | 781 | 55.39% | 614 | 43.55% | 15 | 1.06% |
1904 | 725 | 60.82% | 459 | 38.51% | 8 | 0.67% |
1900 | 466 | 51.43% | 440 | 48.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
1896 | 284 | 37.72% | 467 | 62.02% | 2 | 0.27% |
1892 | 309 | 34.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 592 | 65.70% |
The Wyoming Department of Health Veteran's Home of Wyoming, an assisted living facility for veterans and their dependents, is in Buffalo.[17][18] The Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform operated the facility until the agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.[19]
See also
References
- "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- Long, John H., ed. (2004). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
- Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 169. - "The Flag | Basque Identity 2.0". August 4, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "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.
- "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- "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.
- "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.
- Hazelton WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
- Sussex WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
- Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- Veterans' Home of Wyoming Archived May 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Wyoming Department of Health. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- Buffalo city, Wyoming. US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- "About the Department of Corrections", Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
External links
- Media related to Johnson County, Wyoming at Wikimedia Commons
- Buffalo, Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Website