Natrona County, Wyoming

History

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.

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

Natrona County was named for the deposits of natron found in the area. 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." 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

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 5376 sqmi, of which 5340 sqmi is land and 35 sqmi (0.7%) is water.

Geographic features

• Casper Mountain
• Devil's Gate
• Hell's Half Acre
• Independence Rock
• Martin's Cove
• Teapot Rock

Adjacent counties

• Johnson County – north
• Converse County – east
• Albany County – southeast
• Carbon County – south
• Fremont County – west
• Washakie County – northwest

Major highways

• [[File:I-25 (WY).svg|20px]] Interstate 25
• [[File:US 20.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 20
• [[File:US 26.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 26
• [[File:US 87.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 87
• [[File:US 287.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 287
• [[Image:WY-220.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 220
• [[Image:WY-251.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 251
• [[Image:WY-252.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 252
• [[Image:WY-221.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 253
• [[Image:WY-256.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 256
• [[Image:WY-257.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 257
• [[Image:WY-258.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 258
• [[Image:WY-259.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 259
• [[Image:WY-387.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 387
• [[Image:WY-487.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 487

Transit

• Casper Area Transit
• Express Arrow

Geology

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 its purity.

National protected areas

• Medicine Bow National Forest (part)
• Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1870–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 79,955. Of the residents, 24.4% were under the age of 18 and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.8 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.7% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 2.6% from some other race, and 7.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.0% of the population.

There were 32,699 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 36,808 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.9% were owner-occupied and 31.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.2%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 75,450 people, 30,616 households, and 19,714 families in the county. The population density was 14.1 /mi2. There were 33,807 housing units at an average density of 6.3 /mi2. 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.

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.

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.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, of 2000, there were 66,533 persons, 26,819 households, and 17,754 families in the county. The population density was 12 /mi2. There were 29,882 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. 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.

Communities

Cities

• Casper (county seat and largest municipality)

Towns

• Bar Nunn
• Edgerton
• Evansville
• Midwest
• Mills

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

• Alcova
• Antelope Hills
• Bessemer Bend
• Brookhurst
• Casper Mountain
• Hartrandt
• Homa Hills
• Meadow Acres
• Mountain View
• Powder River
• Red Butte
• Vista West

Other communities

• Arminto
• Bucknum
• Crimson Dawn
• Goose Egg
• Hells Half Acre
• Hiland
• Natrona
• Strouds

Politics

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.

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:

• Forrest Chadwick (chairman) – Republican
• John Lawson (Vice-chairman) – Republican
• Matt Keating – Republican
• Rob Hendry – Republican
• Steve Schlager – Republican

Education

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

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Centers of Population by State: 2010". US Census Bureau.
4. [http://www.natronacounty-wy.gov/420/History-of-Natrona-County ''History of Natrona County'' (accessed 11 January 2019)]
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6. (2004). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". The [[Newberry Library]].
7. Urbanek, Mae. (1988). "Wyoming Place Names". Mountain Press Pub. Co..
8. Seely-Webb, Francis. (February 15, 1953). "First Mayor Tells of Casper's Youth". Casper Star-Tribune.
9. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
10. "Programs: Energy and Minerals: Mining and Minerals: About: Wyoming | Bureau of Land Management".
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12. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
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14. 2020 Census, US Census Bureau, Natrona County, Wyoming Profile
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau.
18. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau.
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21. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
22. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
23. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Natrona County, WY". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].