| Casper, Wyoming | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Nickname: | "The Oil City" |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Casper, WY Logo.png |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
| Pushpin Map: | Wyoming#USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Wyoming##Location within the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Pushpin Label: | Casper |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Name2: | Natrona |
| Government Type: | Council–manager[1] |
| Leader Title: | City Manager |
| Leader Name: | Carter Napier[2] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 26.88 |
| Area Footnotes: | [3] |
| Area Total Km2: | 69.62 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 26.55 |
| Area Land Km2: | 68.76 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.33 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.86 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 59038 |
| Population Rank: | US: 662nd WY: 2nd |
| Population Metro: | 79955 (US: 378th) |
| Population Urban: | 64548 (US: 424th) |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 2182.21 |
| Population Density Km2: | 842.55 |
| Timezone: | MST |
| Utc Offset: | −7 |
| Timezone Dst: | MDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −6 |
| Elevation M: | 1560 |
| Elevation Ft: | 5150 |
| Coordinates: | 42.85°N -106.325°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Codes |
| Postal Code: | 82601–82602, 82604–82605, 82609, 82615, 82630, 82638, 82646 |
| Area Code: | 307 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 56-13150[4] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1586424[5] |
Casper is a city in and the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.[6] Casper is the second-most populous city in the state after Cheyenne, with the population at 59,038 as of the 2020 census.[7] Casper is nicknamed "The Oil City" and has a long history of oil boomtown and cowboy culture, dating back to the development of the nearby Salt Creek Oil Field.
Casper is located in east central Wyoming on the North Platte River.
The city was established east of the former site of Fort Caspar, in an area that grew for European settlers during the mid-19th century mass migration of land seekers along the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails,[8] where several nearby ferries offered passage across the North Platte River in the early 1840s. In 1859, Louis Guinard built a bridge and trading post near the original ferry locations, allowing overland travel to continue through the area.[9]
The government also posted the military garrison to protect telegraph and mail service. It was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William O. Collins. Native American attacks increased after the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado in 1864, bringing more troops to the post, which was by now called Platte Bridge Station. In July 1865, Lt. Colonel William Collins' beloved son Lieutenant Caspar Collins was killed near the post by a group of Indian warriors, and three months later the garrison was renamed Fort Caspar in his son's honor.[8]
In 1867, the troops were ordered to abandon Fort Caspar in favor of Fort Fetterman, downstream on the North Platte along the Bozeman Trail. However, the town itself was settled twenty years later in 1887, and incorporated a year later by developers as an anticipated stopping point during the expansion of the Wyoming Central Railway.
A site a few miles east was planned as the original site,[10] where homesteader Joshua Stroud lived prior to the actual construction of the train station for the Chicago and North Western Railway.[11] [12] [13] The site was laid out by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1888 and was known as Strouds, but the name Casper soon prevailed. While the name is derived from Fort Caspar and Lt. Caspar Collins, it is officially named "Casper" due to a typo occurring during the official registration.
Casper was an early commercial rival to both Bessemer and Douglas, Wyoming. The absence of a railhead doomed Bessemer in favor of Casper, while Douglas, also a railhead, survives to the present day. This rail presence also made Casper the starting off point for the "invaders" in the Johnson County War, since the chartered train carrying the men from Texas stopped at Casper.
In more recent history, the city received a significant influx of visitors during the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, due to its position along the path of totality.[14]
Interstate 25, which approaches Casper from the north and east, is the main avenue of transportation to and from the city. The towns immediately adjacent to Casper are Mills, Evansville, and Bar Nunn. Unincorporated areas include Allendale, Dempsey Acres, Red Buttes, Indian Springs, and several others.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.24sqmi, of which 26.9sqmi is land and 0.34sqmi is water.[15]
Casper, as with most of the rest of Wyoming, has a continental semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk), with long, cold, but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs, and short and crisp autumns. Normal daily maxima range from 35.2F in January to 89F in July. Snow can fall heavily during the winter and early to mid-spring months, and usually falls in May and October. Precipitation is greatest in spring and early summer, but even then it is not high. Highs reach 90F on 37.8 days per year and fail to surpass freezing on 41.3. Lows drop to 0F on an average of 14.6 nights annually. The highest temperature recorded in Casper was 104°F on July 12, 1954, July 16, 2005, and July 29, 2006, while the lowest temperature recorded was -42°F on December 22, 2022.
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 55,316 people, 22,794 households, and 14,237 families residing in the city. The population density was 2056.4PD/sqmi. There were 24,536 housing units at an average density of 912.1/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.3% White, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 2.3% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.
There were 22,794 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. Of all households 30.3% were made up of individuals, and 10.1% 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 2.95.
The median age in the city was 36 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 20,343 households, and 13,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 2073.2/mi2. There were 21,872 housing units at an average density of 913.4/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 94.03% White, 0.86% Black, 1.00% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 5.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,343 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households 29.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.2% 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 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,567, and the median income for a family was $46,267. Males had a median income of $34,905 versus $21,810 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,409. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Casper is a regional center of banking and commerce.
After the discovery of crude oil in the region during the 1890s, Casper became the regional petroleum industry center. Oil has figured prominently in its history from nearly the outset. Oil was first discovered in the famous Salt Creek Oil Field in 1889, approximately 40miles north of Casper; the first refinery in Casper was built in 1895. The city has featured a refinery ever since, although various refineries have been built and closed over the years. As recently as the early 1980s, the city was near or home to three refineries. The surviving one, operated by Sinclair Oil Corporation, is located nearby in Evansville. Development of Wyoming coal and uranium fields in recent decades has helped Casper continue its role as a center in the energy industry.
Casper Wind Farm began operations near Casper in Natrona County and has 11 turbines with a generating capacity of 16.5 MW.[17] Energy Transportation Inc. is headquartered in Casper. This logistics firm transports overweight and outsized components used in the wind power industry.[18] The Casper landfill is also a disposal site for windmill blades.[19]
Casper is home to Casper College, a community college that offers bachelor's degrees in sixteen areas of study from the University of Wyoming through their UW/CC Center.[20]
Public education in the city of Casper is provided by Natrona County School District #1, the sole school district for the county.[21] The district operates sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in Casper. The high schools are Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, and Roosevelt High Schools. A program called CAPS is being added to Natrona County School District, which will provide more space and classrooms for juniors and seniors at the three high schools.
Casper has a public library, a branch of the Natrona County Public Library System.[22]
Casper is served by one print newspaper, the Casper Star-Tribune, a daily, and until recently the Casper Journal, published weekly. Casper is also home to WyoFile, an online publication focusing on state issues[23] and Oil City News, an online news and media site.[24] Casper is served by 30 radio stations on FM and AM. KTWO 1030 AM is the state's oldest radio station.[25] For television, Casper is served by all four major networks. ABC is available via KTWO-TV, CBS via KGWC-TV, NBC via KCWY, and FOX via KFNB. Casper also has an affiliate of PBS, KPTW. [26] Almost all of the city's FM stations and all of its TV stations broadcast from Casper Mountain south of the city.
Sports teams based in Casper include:
Casper is home to a number of museums and historical sites:
Casper has three locations offering theater: the Gertrude Krampert Theatre at Casper College, Stage III Community Theatre, and the Casper Events Center[43] where an annual series of touring Broadway shows, Broadway in Casper, can be seen.
Casper is home to the Troopers,[44] a drum and bugle corps in Drum Corps International, and the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra.[45] During the summer months, Casper's City Band performs free concerts Thursday evenings at Washington Park, weather permitting.[43]
Wyoming National Bank, a mid-century modern tower, was designed by Charles Deaton and is featured in Casper's logo.[46]
The city has scheduled air service at Casper–Natrona County International Airport, a former army air base built during World War II. The runways are large, having been built for bombers. It replaced a regional airport north of Casper which later became the town of Bar Nunn, Wyoming. The airport is located west of the city just off of US Highway 20/26. In July 2004, the airport facilities were renovated.[47] Passenger service at the airport is offered by United Express (SkyWest Airlines and GoJet Airlines), and Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines). FedEx Express and FedEx Feeder provide cargo airline service to the airport.
Public transit in the Casper area had been provided by the Casper Area Transportation Coalition but is now offered by the city of Casper as Casper Area Transit.[48] They offer fixed route service called Casper Area LINK and an on-request service called ASSIST from Monday to Saturday.
Scheduled bus service once offered by Power River Bus Lines is now offered by ExpressArrow (formerly Black Hills Stages).