Laramie County, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
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 Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area
comprises Laramie County.
. The county was named for Jacques La Ramee
, a French-Canadian fur-trader. In late 1867, Laramie County lost territory when Sweetwater County was created. In 1868, Laramie County also lost territory when Albany County and Carbon County
were created. Laramie County became a county in the Wyoming Territory
when the territorial government was formed in 1869. Crook County was created with land ceded by Laramie County in 1875. A few years later in 1888, Converse County was also formed from a portion of Laramie County. In 1911, Goshen and Platte Counties were formed from another part of Laramie County, and at that point the county achieved its current boundaries.
, the county has a total area of 2688 square miles (6,961.9 km²), of which 2686 square miles (6,956.7 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.06%) is water.
of 2000, there were 81,607 people, 31,927 households, and 21,614 families residing in the county. The population density
was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 34,213 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.92% White
, 2.60% Black
or African American
, 0.85% Native American
, 0.95% Asian
, 0.11% Pacific Islander
, 4.00% from other races
, and 2.57% from two or more races. 10.90% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 23.7% were of German, 11.1% English
, 10.3% Irish
and 7.4% American
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 31,927 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,607, and the median income for a family was $46,536. Males had a median income of $31,644 versus $24,406 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $19,634. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. 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
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 Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
, the state capital. The Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Cheyenne metropolitan area
The Cheyenne Metropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Metropolitan Statistical Area located in the Cheyenne region of the State of Wyoming. The Cheyenne Metropolitan Statistical Area is defined as Laramie County, Wyoming. Many consider the Cheyenne Metro Area to be...
comprises Laramie County.
History
Laramie County was originally created in 1867 as a county within the Dakota TerritoryDakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
. The county was named for Jacques La Ramee
Jacques La Ramee
Jacques La Ramée was a French or French-Canadian fur trader who lived in what is now the U.S. state of Wyoming after moving there in 1815. In 1820 or 1821, he left for the season to go trapping along what is now known as the Laramie River...
, a French-Canadian fur-trader. In late 1867, Laramie County lost territory when Sweetwater County was created. In 1868, Laramie County also lost territory when Albany County and Carbon County
Carbon County, Wyoming
Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of 2010, the population was 15,885. Its county seat is Rawlins.- History :Carbon County was organized in 1868....
were created. Laramie County became a county in the Wyoming Territory
Wyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
when the territorial government was formed in 1869. Crook County was created with land ceded by Laramie County in 1875. A few years later in 1888, Converse County was also formed from a portion of Laramie County. In 1911, Goshen and Platte Counties were formed from another part of Laramie County, and at that point the county achieved its current boundaries.
Geography
According to the United States 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 2688 square miles (6,961.9 km²), of which 2686 square miles (6,956.7 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.06%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Goshen County - (north-northeast)
- Banner CountyBanner 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....
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska 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....
- (northeast) - Kimball CountyKimball County, Nebraska-History:Kimball County was formed in 1888. It was named after railroad pioneer Thomas L. Kimball.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,089 people, 1,727 households, and 1,136 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,972...
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska 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....
- (east) - Weld CountyWeld County, ColoradoAs of the census of 2000, there were 180,936 people, 63,247 households, and 45,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 66,194 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- (south) - Larimer CountyLarimer County, ColoradoLarimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- (southwest) - Albany County - (west)
- Platte County - (north-northwest)
Major Highways
Interstate 80
Interstate 25
Interstate 180Interstate 180 (Wyoming)Interstate 180 is a spur off Interstate 80 into downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming.-Route description:It is unusual for being the only Interstate Highway that is not up to Interstate Highway standards anywhere on its route...
U.S. Highway 30
U.S. Highway 85
U.S. Highway 87
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 81,607 people, 31,927 households, and 21,614 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 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 34,213 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.92% 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...
, 2.60% 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...
, 0.85% 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...
, 0.95% 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...
, 0.11% 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...
, 4.00% 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 2.57% from two or more races. 10.90% 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. 23.7% were of German, 11.1% 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...
, 10.3% 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...
and 7.4% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 31,927 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% 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, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,607, and the median income for a family was $46,536. Males had a median income of $31,644 versus $24,406 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 $19,634. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
Towns
- AlbinAlbin, WyomingAlbin is a town in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 120 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albin is located about ENE of Cheyenne....
- BurnsBurns, WyomingBurns is a town in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 285 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Burns is located at , about 25 miles east of Cheyenne....
- Pine BluffsPine Bluffs, Wyoming-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,153 people, 482 households, and 332 families residing in the town. The population density was 357.4 people per square mile . There were 517 housing units at an average density of 160.3 per square mile...
Census-designated places
- Fox Farm-CollegeFox Farm-College, WyomingFox Farm-College is a census-designated place in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- RanchettesRanchettes, WyomingRanchettes is a census-designated place in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the 'Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area'...
- South GreeleySouth Greeley, WyomingSouth Greeley is a census-designated place in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- FE Warren AFB
Other communities
- CarpenterCarpenter, WyomingCarpenter is an unincorporated community in southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along WYO 214 east of the city of Cheyenne, the county seat of Laramie County and capital of Wyoming. Its elevation is 5,440 feet...
- GraniteGranite, WyomingGranite is an unincorporated community in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. Its elevation is 7,336 feet...
- HillsdaleHillsdale, WyomingHillsdale is an unincorporated community in southeastern Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along local roads east of the city of Cheyenne, the county seat of Laramie County. Its elevation is 5,640 feet . Although Hillsdale is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP...
- Horse CreekHorse Creek, WyomingHorse Creek is an unincorporated community in western Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It lies along WYO 211 northwest of the city of Cheyenne, the county seat of Laramie County. Its elevation is 6,506 feet...
- MeridenMeriden, WyomingMeriden is an unincorporated crossroads in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located about 45 miles northeast of Cheyenne.The community was named after Meriden, Connecticut....
See also
- Front Range Urban CorridorFront Range Urban CorridorThe Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Laramie County, WyomingNational Register of Historic Places listings in Laramie County, WyomingThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Laramie County, Wyoming. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States...
- Wyoming census statistical areasWyoming census statistical areasThe United States Census Bureau has defined two Metropolitan Statistical Areas and seven Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the State of Wyoming. The following table describes these areas with the following information:...
Further reading
- Hallberg, L.L. and J.P. Mason. (2007). Selected hydrogeologic data for the High Plains aquifer in southwestern Laramie County, Wyoming, 1931-2006 [U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1069]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.