Afton, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Afton is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census.
Afton is home to the world's largest elk horn arch. Spanning 75 feet (22.9 m) across the four lanes of US Highway 89, the arch consists of 3,011 elk
antlers and weighs 15 tons.
settlers along the Lander cutoff of the Oregon Trail
.
, a grassland valley in forested mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km²), all of it land.
A periodic spring
is Afton's main water supply, which cycles on and off during the summer, fall, and winter at 12 to 18 minute intervals. During the spring the flow never stops due to increased water supply from the melting snowpack. At full flow the Periodic Spring discharges up to 285 gallons per second. It is located 5 miles east of Afton, a short hike from the end of Swift Creek Road.
of 2000, there were 1,818 people, 651 households, and 475 families residing in the town. The population density
was 530.8 people per square mile (204.6/km²). There were 769 housing units at an average density of 224.5 per square mile (86.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.19% White, 0.06% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.94% from other races
, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.81% of the population.
There were 651 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,292, and the median income for a family was $43,400. Males had a median income of $33,472 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,177. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
. Zoned campuses include Afton Elementary School (grades K-3), Osmond Elementary School (grades 4-6), Star Valley Middle School (grades 7-8), and Star Valley High School
(grades 9-12).
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census.
Afton is home to the world's largest elk horn arch. Spanning 75 feet (22.9 m) across the four lanes of US Highway 89, the arch consists of 3,011 elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
antlers and weighs 15 tons.
History
Afton was founded by MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
settlers along the Lander cutoff of the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
.
Geography
Afton is located at 42°43′42"N 110°55′45"W (42.728321, -110.929041) at 6267 feet (1,910.2 m) in elevation. It is the largest city in Star ValleyStar Valley
Star Valley is located in the United States between the Salt River Range in western Wyoming and the Webster Range of eastern Idaho. The altitude of the valley ranges from to . Three major Wyoming rivers, the Salt River, the Greys River and the Snake River meet near Alpine Junction at Palisades...
, a grassland valley in forested mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.9 km²), all of it land.
A periodic spring
Intermittent spring
A rhythmic spring is a cold water fluctuating spring....
is Afton's main water supply, which cycles on and off during the summer, fall, and winter at 12 to 18 minute intervals. During the spring the flow never stops due to increased water supply from the melting snowpack. At full flow the Periodic Spring discharges up to 285 gallons per second. It is located 5 miles east of Afton, a short hike from the end of Swift Creek Road.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,818 people, 651 households, and 475 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 530.8 people per square mile (204.6/km²). There were 769 housing units at an average density of 224.5 per square mile (86.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.19% White, 0.06% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.94% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.81% of the population.
There were 651 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,292, and the median income for a family was $43,400. Males had a median income of $33,472 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,177. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in the town of Afton is provided by Lincoln County School District #2Lincoln County School District Number 2
Lincoln County School District #2 is a public school district based in Afton, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Lincoln County School District #2 serves the western portion of Lincoln County, including the following communities:*Incorporated places...
. Zoned campuses include Afton Elementary School (grades K-3), Osmond Elementary School (grades 4-6), Star Valley Middle School (grades 7-8), and Star Valley High School
Star Valley High School
Star Valley High School is a high school located in rural Afton, Lincoln County, Wyoming, and one of two high schools in Lincoln County School District Number 2, along with Cokeville High School...
(grades 9-12).
Notable natives
- Rulon GardnerRulon GardnerRulon Gardner is an American Olympian who competed in the 2000 Olympic games, winning the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling upon defeating Russian Aleksandr Karelin, who was previously undefeated in 13 years of international competition...
- Gold medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and bronze medalist the in 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Greco-Roman wrestlingGreco-Roman wrestlingGreco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
, 97–130 kg.