Riverton, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Riverton is a city in Fremont County, Wyoming
, United States
. It is both the largest city in the county and the largest within the historical boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation
. The city's population was 9,310 at the 2000 census
. The city is an incorporated entity of the state of Wyoming, on land ceded from the reservation in 1906, a situation that often makes it subject to jurisdictional claims by the nearby Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 9,311 people, 3,816 households, and 2,407 families residing in the city. The population density
was 952.2 people per square mile (367.5/km²). There were 4,254 housing units at an average density of 435.1 per square mile (167.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81% White, 0.17% African American, 8.08% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races
, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.09% of the population.
There were 3,816 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $37,079. Males had a median income of $31,685 versus $19,157 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,720. About 11.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Riverton Post Office and the Riverton Post Office Annex.
. The district operates three K-3 elementary schools (Ashgrove, Aspen Park, and Jackson), Rendezvous Elementary School (grades 4–5), Riverton Middle School (grades 6–8), and Riverton High School (grades 9–12).
Central Wyoming college is located in Riverton, with off-campus sites in Wyoming in Jackson, Lander, Thermopolis, Dudbois, and the Wing River Indian Reservation.
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers.
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...
. It is both the largest city in the county and the largest within the historical boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation
Wind River Indian Reservation
Wind River Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation shared by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes of Native Americans in the central western portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming...
. The city's population was 9,310 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The city is an incorporated entity of the state of Wyoming, on land ceded from the reservation in 1906, a situation that often makes it subject to jurisdictional claims by the nearby Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.
Geography
Riverton is located at 43°1′40"N 108°23′42"W (43.027838, -108.395077).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 city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.3 km²), all of it land.
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 9,311 people, 3,816 households, and 2,407 families residing in the city. 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 952.2 people per square mile (367.5/km²). There were 4,254 housing units at an average density of 435.1 per square mile (167.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81% White, 0.17% African American, 8.08% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.86% 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 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.09% of the population.
There were 3,816 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $37,079. Males had a median income of $31,685 versus $19,157 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 city was $16,720. About 11.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Honor Farm is located in Riverton. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and ReformWyoming Board of Charities and Reform
The Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform was a state agency of Wyoming that operated the state's charitable and penal institutions.-History:...
until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Riverton Post Office and the Riverton Post Office Annex.
Education
Public education in the city of Riverton is provided by Fremont County School District #25Fremont County School District Number 25
Fremont County School District #25 is a public school district based in Riverton, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Fremont County School District #25 serves east central Fremont County, including the following communities:*Incorporated places...
. The district operates three K-3 elementary schools (Ashgrove, Aspen Park, and Jackson), Rendezvous Elementary School (grades 4–5), Riverton Middle School (grades 6–8), and Riverton High School (grades 9–12).
Central Wyoming college is located in Riverton, with off-campus sites in Wyoming in Jackson, Lander, Thermopolis, Dudbois, and the Wing River Indian Reservation.
Climate
Riverton experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers.
Trivia
- Riverton is featured in the short story "Brokeback MountainBrokeback MountainBrokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...
" by E. Annie Proulx, as the home of one of the story's protagonists, Ennis Del MarEnnis Del MarEnnis del Mar is the fictional main character of the short story "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx and the 2005 Academy Award-winning film adaptation of the same name directed by Ang Lee. Ennis's story is depicted by his complex, sexual, and romantic relationship with Jack Twist in the American...
.
- The Brunton compassBrunton compassA Brunton compass, properly known as the Brunton Pocket Transit, is a type of precision compass made by Brunton, Inc. of Riverton, Wyoming. The instrument was patented in 1894 by a Canadian-born Colorado geologist named David W. Brunton. Unlike most modern compasses, the Brunton Pocket Transit...
is produced in Riverton by Brunton, Inc.Brunton, Inc.Brunton, Inc. is a manufacturer of technical gear for outdoor activity located in Riverton, Wyoming. Brunton is well known for innovation in the categories of recreational compasses and navigation gear, binoculars, backpacking equipment, family camping, GPS, headlamps, solar panels for portable...
.
Notable natives
- Brett Newlin, 2008 Olympian2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
rowerRowing (sport)Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water... - Kristen NewlinNevin NevlinKristen Michelle Newlin aka Nevin Nevlin is a Turkish American female basketball player at the center position who plays for Fenerbahçe Istanbul. She is 1.96 m and her primary position is center. Nevlin became a valuable member of a EuroLeague Women side of Fenerbahçe Istanbul...
, international basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and sister to Brett - Bucky JacobsenBucky JacobsenLarry William "Bucky" Jacobsen is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He also attended Hermiston High School in Oregon...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman for the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... - Jerrad Anderson, Radio DJ
- Ashlynn YennieAshlynn YennieAshlynn Yennie is an American actress from Riverton, Wyoming. She is best known for playing the role of Jenny in the 2010 Dutch horror film, The Human Centipede . In 2010, she starred as Starlene Arbuckle, in the CM Downs directed horror film, Fetch...
, actress