Casper, Wyoming

History

The city was established east of the former site of Fort Caspar, in an area that grew for European settlers during the mid-19th century mass migration of land seekers along the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails, where several nearby ferries offered passage across the North Platte River in the early 1840s. In 1859, Louis Guinard built a bridge and trading post near the original ferry locations, allowing overland travel to continue through the area.

The government also posted the military garrison to protect telegraph and mail service. It was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William O. Collins. Native American attacks increased after the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado in 1864, bringing more troops to the post, which was by now called Platte Bridge Station. In July 1865, Lt. Colonel William Collins' beloved son Lieutenant Caspar Collins was killed near the post by a group of Indian warriors, and three months later the garrison was renamed Fort Caspar in his son's honor.

In 1867, the troops were ordered to abandon Fort Caspar in favor of Fort Fetterman, downstream on the North Platte along the Bozeman Trail. However, the town itself was settled twenty years later in 1887, and incorporated a year later by developers as an anticipated stopping point during the expansion of the Wyoming Central Railway.

A site a few miles east was planned as the original site, where homesteader Joshua Stroud lived prior to the actual construction of the train station for the Chicago and North Western Railway. The site was laid out by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1888 and was known as Strouds, but the name Casper soon prevailed. While the name is derived from Fort Caspar and Lt. Caspar Collins, it is officially named "Casper" due to a typo occurring during the official registration.

Casper was an early commercial rival to both Bessemer and Douglas, Wyoming. The absence of a railhead doomed Bessemer in favor of Casper, while Douglas, also a railhead, survives to the present day. This rail presence also made Casper the starting off point for the "invaders" in the Johnson County War, since the chartered train carrying the men from Texas stopped at Casper.

In more recent history, the city received a significant influx of visitors during the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, due to its position along the path of totality.

Geography

Interstate 25, which approaches Casper from the north and east, is the main avenue of transportation to and from the city. The towns immediately adjacent to Casper are Mills, Evansville, and Bar Nunn. Unincorporated areas include Allendale, Dempsey Acres, Red Buttes, Indian Springs, and several others.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.24 sqmi, of which 26.90 sqmi is land and 0.34 sqmi is water.

Climate

Casper, as with most of the rest of Wyoming, has a continental semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk), with long, cold, but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs, and short and crisp autumns. Normal daily maxima range from 35.2 F in January to 89.0 F in July. Snow can fall heavily during the winter and early to mid-spring months, and usually falls in May and October. Precipitation is greatest in spring and early summer, but even then it is not high. Highs reach 90 F on 37.8 days per year and fail to surpass freezing on 41.3. Lows drop to 0 F on an average of 14.6 nights annually. The highest temperature recorded in Casper was 104 °F on July 12, 1954, July 16, 2005, and July 29, 2006, while the lowest temperature recorded was -42 °F on December 22, 2022.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 55,316 people, 22,794 households, and 14,237 families residing in the city. The population density was 2056.4 PD/sqmi. There were 24,536 housing units at an average density of 912.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 2.3% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.

There were 22,794 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. Of all households 30.3% were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 36 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 20,343 households, and 13,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,073.2 /mi2. There were 21,872 housing units at an average density of 913.4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 94.03% White, 0.86% Black, 1.00% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 5.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,343 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households 29.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,567, and the median income for a family was $46,267. Males had a median income of $34,905 versus $21,810 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,409. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Casper is a regional center of banking and commerce.

After the discovery of crude oil in the region during the 1890s, Casper became the regional petroleum industry center. Oil has figured prominently in its history from nearly the outset. Oil was first discovered in the famous Salt Creek Oil Field in 1889, approximately 40 mi north of Casper; the first refinery in Casper was built in 1895. The city has featured a refinery ever since, although various refineries have been built and closed over the years. As recently as the early 1980s, the city was near or home to three refineries. The surviving one, operated by Sinclair Oil Corporation, is located nearby in Evansville. Development of Wyoming coal and uranium fields in recent decades has helped Casper continue its role as a center in the energy industry.

Casper Wind Farm began operations near Casper in Natrona County and has 11 turbines with a generating capacity of 16.5 MW. Energy Transportation Inc. is headquartered in Casper. This logistics firm transports overweight and outsized components used in the wind power industry. The Casper landfill is also a disposal site for windmill blades.

Arts and culture

Museums and historical sites

Casper is home to a number of museums and historical sites:

• Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site
• National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, a federally funded and operated museum
• Nicolaysen Art Museum
• Tate Geological Museum at Casper College
• Werner Wildlife Museum
• Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum
• The Science Zone
• Historic Bishop Home

Performing arts and music

Casper has three locations offering theater: the Gertrude Krampert Theatre at Casper College, Stage III Community Theatre, and the Casper Events Center where an annual series of touring Broadway shows, Broadway in Casper, can be seen.

Casper is home to the Troopers, a drum and bugle corps in Drum Corps International, and the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. During the summer months, Casper's City Band performs free concerts Thursday evenings at Washington Park, weather permitting.

Architecture

Wyoming National Bank, a mid-century modern tower, was designed by Charles Deaton and is featured in Casper's logo.

Library

Casper has a public library, a branch of the Natrona County Public Library System.

Sports

• UFC 6 took place at the Casper Events Center in 1995.
• Casper hosted the AIFA Championship Bowl III at the Casper Events Center on July 26, 2009.
• The Events Center has hosted the College National Finals Rodeo since 2001.
• The Casper Recreation Center offers basketball, fitness, racquetball, volleyball and is adjacent to the Casper Family Aquatics Center and Casper Ice Arena.
• Soccer matches are held at the Casper Soccer Complex.
• The Casper Municipal Golf Course is a public 27-hole golf course in Casper.

Sports teams based in Casper include:

• Casper Cannibal RFC, an amateur rugby football team in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union
• Casper Coyotes were a Junior A hockey team in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) that played out of the Casper Ice Arena. They renamed to Casper Bobcats for the 2018–2019 season and folded before the 2019–2020 season.
• Casper Ghosts (formerly). From 2001 to 2011, Mike Lansing Field hosted the Ghosts of the Pioneer League, Rookie-level affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. In 2011, the team relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado to become the Rockies.
• Casper Horseheads (formerly). From 2018 to 2022 the Horseheads, a collegiate summer baseball team of Independence League Baseball, played their home games at Mike Lansing Field before closing operations.
• Casper Spuds, a collegiate summer baseball team of Independence League Baseball that started play in the summer of 2023, after relocating from Caldwell, Idaho, playing their home games at Mike Lansing Field.

Education

Casper is home to Casper College, a community college that offers bachelor's degrees in sixteen areas of study from the University of Wyoming through their UW/CC Center.

Public education in the city of Casper is provided by Natrona County School District #1. The district operates sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in Casper. The high schools are Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, and Roosevelt High Schools. A program called CAPS is being added to Natrona County School District, which will provide more space and classrooms for juniors and seniors at the three high schools.

Media

Casper is served by one print newspaper, the Casper Star-Tribune, a daily, and until recently the Casper Journal, published weekly. Casper is also home to WyoFile, an online publication focusing on state issues and Oil City News, an online news and media site.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

Airports

The city has scheduled air service at Casper–Natrona County International Airport, a former army air base built during World War II. The runways are large, having been built for bombers. It replaced a regional airport north of Casper which later became the town of Bar Nunn, Wyoming. The airport is located west of the city just off of US Highway 20/26. In July 2004, the airport facilities were renovated. Passenger service at the airport is offered by United Express (SkyWest Airlines and GoJet Airlines), and Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines). FedEx Express and FedEx Feeder provide cargo airline service to the airport.

Public transit

Public transit in the Casper area had been provided by the Casper Area Transportation Coalition but is now offered by the city of Casper as Casper Area Transit. They offer fixed route service called Casper Area LINK and an on-request service called ASSIST from Monday to Saturday.

Scheduled bus service

Scheduled bus service once offered by Power River Bus Lines is now offered by ExpressArrow (formerly Black Hills Stages).

Rail

The Union Pacific line terminates at Casper. The line previously extended to Lander.

Notable people

• Logan Wilson (born 1996), Linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals
• John Barrasso (born 1952), Republican U.S. Senator from Wyoming
• Zane Beadles (born 1986), former Utah Ute offensive lineman; former member of the San Francisco 49ers{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BeadZa20.htm| title=Zane Beadles
• C. J. Box (born 1958), author
• Tom Brewer (born 1958), member of the Nebraska Legislature
• Tom Browning (born 1960), former major league pitcher; threw perfect game; while with the Cincinnati Reds, won a World Series{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=brownto05|title=Tom Browning Stats
• Taven Bryan (born 1996), professional football player
• Dick Cheney (1941-2025), US vice-president, Secretary of Defense; CEO of Halliburton Company; grew up in Casper
• Liz Cheney (born 1966), lawyer; member of U.S. State Department; daughter of Dick Cheney; attended elementary school in Casper; elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
• Lynne Cheney (born 1941), wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney
• Tom Coburn (1948–2020), U.S. Senator from Oklahoma
• Barbara Cubin (born 1946), former member of the U.S. House of Representatives; grew up and graduated from high school in Casper
• Mike Devereaux (born 1963), professional baseball player with World Series rings with Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves
• Ron Franscell (born 1957), journalist, crime author
• Mary Meyer Gilmore (born 1947), former Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
• Rick Koerber (born 1973), convicted felon who was found guilty in federal court of orchestrating and running a $100 million Ponzi scheme
• Marlan Scully (born 1939), physicist best known for his work in theoretical quantum optics
• Matthew Scully (born 1959), author, speechwriter
• Matthew Shepard (born 1976), murder victim for whom the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act is named
• Patrick Joseph Sullivan (1864–1935), mayor of Casper, Wyoming, 1897–1898; member of United States Senate from Wyoming, 1929–1930
• Floyd Volker (1921–1995), professional basketball player
• Pete Williams (born 1952), NBC News journalist covering the U.S. Justice Department.
• Jeffree Star, makeup artist, media personality and singer-songwriter
• Charles K. Bucknum: American Indian Wars veteran, settler, rancher, trapper, and politician. Bucknum served as the mayor of Casper from 1892–1893 and again from 1901–1902. He was later a member of the Wyoming Legislature.

References

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