Goshen County, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Goshen County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Wyoming
. As of 2010, the population was 13,249. Its county seat
is Torrington
.
.
The county was named for Goshen Hole, a valley in the southwest part of the county At least four conflicting stories are available for the origin of the name Goshen Hole.
In the late spring of 2009, a weather research team known as VORTEX2
observed the full life cycle of a tornado
near the border with Nebraska
in Goshen County.
, the county has a total area of 2232 square miles (5,780.9 km²), of which 2225 square miles (5,762.7 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.31%) is water.
of 2000, there were 12,538 people, 5,061 households, and 3,426 families residing in the county. The population density
was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,881 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.83% White
, 0.20% Black
or African American
, 0.86% Native American
, 0.20% Asian
, 0.12% Pacific Islander
, 3.65% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. 8.83% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 38.2% were of German, 10.4% English
, 8.0% American
and 8.0% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,061 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples
living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% 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 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,228, and the median income for a family was $40,297. Males had a median income of $27,713 versus $17,584 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,965. About 9.70% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
is located in Torrington
. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death. The grand opening and ribbon cutting occurred on January 6, 2010.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wyoming
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...
. As of 2010, the population was 13,249. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Torrington
Torrington, Wyoming
Torrington is a city in and the county seat of Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,776 at the 2000 census. Torrington is the home of Eastern Wyoming College....
.
History
Goshen County was created on February 21, 1911 with land given up by Laramie CountyLaramie County, Wyoming
Laramie County is the most populous of the 23 counties of the U.S. state of Wyoming. The county is located in the southeastern corner of the state. The county's population was 91,738 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Cheyenne, the state capital...
.
The county was named for Goshen Hole, a valley in the southwest part of the county At least four conflicting stories are available for the origin of the name Goshen Hole.
In the late spring of 2009, a weather research team known as VORTEX2
VORTEX projects
The Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment or VORTEX, field projects study tornadoes. VORTEX1 was the first time scientists completely researched the entire evolution of a tornado, enabling a greater understanding of the processes involved with tornadogenesis...
observed the full life cycle of a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
near the border with Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
in Goshen County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited 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 county has a total area of 2232 square miles (5,780.9 km²), of which 2225 square miles (5,762.7 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.31%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Niobrara County, Wyoming - north
- Platte County, Wyoming - west
- Laramie County, WyomingLaramie County, WyomingLaramie County is the most populous of the 23 counties of the U.S. state of Wyoming. The county is located in the southeastern corner of the state. The county's population was 91,738 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Cheyenne, the state capital...
- south - Banner County, NebraskaBanner County, NebraskaBanner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The population was 690 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Harrisburg.Banner County is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area....
- southeast - Scotts Bluff County, NebraskaScotts Bluff County, Nebraska-National protected area:* North Platte National Wildlife Refuge* Scotts Bluff National Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,951 people, 14,887 households, and 10,167 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,119...
- east - Sioux County, NebraskaSioux County, Nebraska-National protected areas:* Agate Fossil Beds National Monument* Nebraska National Forest * Oglala National Grassland -Demographics:...
- east
Major Highways
U.S. Highway 26
U.S. Highway 85
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 12,538 people, 5,061 households, and 3,426 families residing in the county. 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 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 5,881 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.83% White
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...
, 0.20% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.86% Native American
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...
, 0.20% Asian
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...
, 0.12% Pacific Islander
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...
, 3.65% 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 1.14% from two or more races. 8.83% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 38.2% were of German, 10.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.0% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 8.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,061 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% 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, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% 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 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,228, and the median income for a family was $40,297. Males had a median income of $27,713 versus $17,584 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 county was $15,965. About 9.70% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Medium Correctional InstitutionWyoming Medium Correctional Institution
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution is a prison for men located in unincorporated Goshen County, Wyoming, near Torrington. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death.-History:The Layton Construction Company built...
is located in Torrington
Torrington, Wyoming
Torrington is a city in and the county seat of Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,776 at the 2000 census. Torrington is the home of Eastern Wyoming College....
. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death. The grand opening and ribbon cutting occurred on January 6, 2010.
Towns
- Fort LaramieFort Laramie, WyomingFort Laramie is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census. The town is named after historic Fort Laramie, an important stop on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails as well as a staging point for various military excursions...
- La GrangeLa Grange, WyomingLa Grange is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 332 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Grange is located at ....
- LingleLingle, WyomingLingle is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 510 at the 2000 census.Former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Richard V...
- YoderYoder, WyomingYoder is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yoder is located at ....
Census-designated places
- Hawk SpringsHawk Springs, WyomingHawk Springs is a census-designated place in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 69 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hawk Springs is located at ....
- HuntleyHuntley, WyomingHuntley is a census-designated place in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 21 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Huntley is located at ....
- VeteranVeteran, WyomingVeteran is a census-designated place located in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 28 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Veteran is located at ....
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Goshen County, WyomingNational Register of Historic Places listings in Goshen County, WyomingThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Goshen County, Wyoming. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States...