Fremont County, Wyoming

Fremont County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 39,234, making it the fifth-most populous county in Wyoming.[1] Its county seat is Lander.[2] The county was founded in 1884 and is named for John C. Frémont, a general, explorer, and politician. It is roughly the size of the state of Vermont.

Fremont County
County
Fremont County Courthouse in Lander
Fremont County Courthouse in Lander
Map of Wyoming highlighting Fremont County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°02′N 108°38′W
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedMarch 5, 1884
Named forJohn C. Frémont
SeatLander
Largest cityRiverton
Area
 • Total9,266 sq mi (24,000 km2)
 • Land9,184 sq mi (23,790 km2)
 • Water82 sq mi (210 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total39,234
 • Density4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.fremontcountywy.org
John C. Frémont

Fremont County comprises the Riverton, WY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Fremont County was created on March 5, 1884, by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory.[3] The county was created with land ceded by Sweetwater County. In 1890, Big Horn County was carved out of Fremont, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties. Hot Springs County was created in 1911 from parts of Fremont, Big Horn, and Park counties. In 1921, Sublette County was created from parts of Fremont and Lincoln counties, leaving Fremont County's boundary at its present configuration.

Fremont County was named for John Charles Frémont, an explorer of the American West, United States Senator from California, and 1856 Republican presidential candidate.[4][5] Fremont County is the site of the Wind River Indian Reservation, home of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 9,266 square miles (24,000 km2), of which 9,184 square miles (23,790 km2) is land and 82 square miles (210 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6] It is the second-largest county by area in Wyoming, as well as in the six Rocky Mountain States. Elevations and climate range from desert at Boysen State Park to glaciers at 13,804-foot (4,207 m) Gannett Peak, the highest point not only in Wyoming but in the three Central Rockies states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The southern end of the county is traversed by the Oregon Trail and in the northwest corner lies Dubois, a gateway town for Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Although the county seat is Lander, the largest community is Riverton, home of Central Wyoming College and the economic hub of the region. A large portion of the western edge of the county follows the Continental Divide at the crest of the Wind River Range of the Rocky Mountains, known for its wilderness areas and home of the largest glaciers in the American Rocky Mountains.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Transit

National protected areas

The Bridger National Forest and the Teton National Forest have been administratively combined into the Bridger–Teton National Forest. Fremont County contains portions of both originally-designated forests.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,463—
19005,357117.5%
191011,822120.7%
192011,8200.0%
193010,490−11.3%
194016,09553.4%
195019,58021.7%
196026,16833.6%
197028,3528.3%
198038,99237.5%
199033,662−13.7%
200035,8046.4%
201040,12312.1%
202039,234−2.2%
US Decennial Census[7]
1870–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census,[9] there were 35,804 people, 13,545 households, and 9,481 families in Fremont County. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup was 76.49% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 19.68% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. 4.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.1% were of German, 9.9% English, 8.2% Irish and 6.3% American ancestry.

There were 13,545 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

The county population contained 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,503, and the median income for a family was $37,983. Males had a median income of $30,620 versus $19,802 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,519. About 13.30% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 40,123 people, 15,455 households, and 10,360 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 4.4 people per square mile (1.7 people/km2). There were 17,796 housing units at an average density of 1.9 units per square mile (0.73 units/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 74.3% white, 21.2% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 1.0% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were German, 13.5% were English, 12.2% were Irish, and 7.7% were American.[12]

Of the 15,455 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 38.5 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,397 and the median income for a family was $55,531. Males had a median income of $44,087 versus $27,751 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,173. About 10.3% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Government and infrastructure

The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Farm is located in Riverton.[14] The Wyoming Department of Health Wyoming Life Resource Center (WLRC), originally the Wyoming State Training School (WSTS), a residential facility for physically and mentally disabled people, is located in Lander.[15][16] Both facilities were 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.[17]

Fremont County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. Since 1936, in only one national election did the county voters select the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Fremont County, Wyoming[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 12,007 66.30% 5,519 30.47% 585 3.23%
2016 11,167 65.60% 4,200 24.67% 1,656 9.73%
2012 11,075 65.38% 5,333 31.48% 531 3.13%
2008 11,083 63.00% 6,016 34.20% 493 2.80%
2004 11,429 66.85% 5,338 31.22% 329 1.92%
2000 10,560 68.38% 4,172 27.01% 712 4.61%
1996 7,554 50.28% 5,445 36.24% 2,025 13.48%
1992 5,387 38.77% 4,765 34.29% 3,744 26.94%
1988 7,681 59.59% 5,020 38.95% 188 1.46%
1984 9,885 70.61% 3,969 28.35% 145 1.04%
1980 9,077 67.72% 3,307 24.67% 1,019 7.60%
1976 6,584 59.51% 4,423 39.98% 56 0.51%
1972 7,359 69.12% 3,248 30.51% 40 0.38%
1968 5,417 57.64% 3,093 32.91% 888 9.45%
1964 4,809 44.55% 5,985 55.45% 0 0.00%
1960 5,738 57.46% 4,248 42.54% 0 0.00%
1956 4,887 65.54% 2,569 34.46% 0 0.00%
1952 5,881 72.94% 2,161 26.80% 21 0.26%
1948 3,357 52.45% 3,019 47.17% 24 0.38%
1944 3,193 59.46% 2,177 40.54% 0 0.00%
1940 3,788 58.70% 2,644 40.97% 21 0.33%
1936 2,357 42.60% 3,050 55.12% 126 2.28%
1932 1,696 38.77% 2,612 59.72% 66 1.51%
1928 2,267 60.65% 1,449 38.76% 22 0.59%
1924 1,986 51.73% 561 14.61% 1,292 33.65%
1920 2,194 67.61% 994 30.63% 57 1.76%
1916 1,407 43.28% 1,752 53.89% 92 2.83%
1912 811 33.03% 993 40.45% 651 26.52%
1908 1,838 58.74% 1,190 38.03% 101 3.23%
1904 1,009 63.06% 563 35.19% 28 1.75%
1900 919 63.03% 539 36.97% 0 0.00%
1896 535 50.28% 523 49.15% 6 0.56%
1892 648 54.45% 0 0.00% 542 45.55%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

See also

In his poem The Ballad of Jesus Ortiz, Dana Gioia describes how his great-grandfather, a Mexican immigrant from Sonora, worked as a Wild West cow-puncher and was later murdered by a disgruntled and racist patron while working as a saloon keeper in the Fremont County town of Lost Cabin, Wyoming in 1910.[25]

The movie Wind River is set on the Wind River Indian Reservation, which is inside Fremont County.

Scenes from the movie Taking Chance were set in Dubois, a town within Fremont County. The real-life Chance Phelps from the film was born in Riverton and is buried in Dubois, both in Fremont County.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fremont County, Wyoming.
  1. "State & County QuickFacts".
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. 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 October 4, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  4. Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 132.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 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. Contact Institutions. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  15. WDH Who We Are – Wyoming Life Resource Center. Wyoming Department of Health. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  16. Lander city, Wyoming. US Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  17. About the Department of Corrections. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  19. Dunoir WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  20. Lost Cabin WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  21. Midval WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  22. Moneta WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  23. Sand Draw WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  24. Willow Creek WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  25. John Zheng (2021), Conversations with Dana Gioia, University of Mississippi Press. Pages 234–238.

43.03°N 108.63°W / 43.03; -108.63

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