Casper is a city in and the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United
States. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming, according to the 2010
census, with a population of 55,316. Only Cheyenne, the state capital, is
larger. Casper is nicknamed "The Oil City" and has a long history of oil
boomtown and cowboy culture, dating back to development of the nearby Salt Creek
Oil Field. In 2010, Casper was named the highest-ranked family-friendly small
city in the West, and ranked eighth overall in the nation in Forbes
magazine's list of "the best small cities to raise a family".
Casper is located in east-central Wyoming at the foot of Casper Mountain,
the north end of the Laramie Mountain Range, along the North Platte River.
History The city was established east of the
former site of Fort Caspar, which was built during the mid-19th century mass
migration of land seekers along the Oregon, California and Mormon trails.
The area was the location of several ferries that 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.
The government soon posted a military garrison nearby to protect telegraph and
mail service. It was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William O.
Collins. American Indian 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, Lieutenant Caspar Collins was
killed near the post by a group of Indian warriors. Three months later the
garrison was renamed Fort Caspar after Lieutenant Collins. In 1867, the troops
were ordered to abandon Fort Caspar in favor of Fort Fetterman downstream on
the North Platte along the Bozeman Trail.
The town of Casper itself was founded well after the fort had been closed. The
city was founded by developers as an anticipated stopping point during the
expansion of the Wyoming Central Railway; it was an early commercial
rival to Bessemer and Douglas, Wyoming. The lack of a railhead doomed Bessemer
in favor of Casper. Douglas, also a railhead, survives to the present day.
The presence of a railhead made Casper the starting off point for the
"invaders" in the Johnson County War. The special chartered train carrying the
men up from Texas stopped at Casper. The reason why the town is named Casper,
instead of Caspar honoring the memory of Fort Caspar and Lt. Caspar Collins, is
due to a typo that occurred when the town's name was officially registered.
Geography and climate 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, Bar Nunn,
and Mountain View. Unincorporated areas include Allendale, Dempsey Acres, Red
Buttes, Indian Springs, and several others.
Casper is located at 42°50′5″N 106°19′30″W. It sits at an average
elevation of about 5,200 feet. According to the United States Census
Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.24 square miles, of which, 26.90
square miles is land and 0.34 square miles is water.
Casper, as with most of the rest of Wyoming, has a semi-arid climate, with
long, cold, but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs, and
short and crisp autumns. Highs range from 32 °F in January to 88 °F in July
and August. Temperatures typically plummet during summer nights, with an
average diurnal temperature variation approaching 35 °F. Snow can fall heavily
during the winter months, being the greatest in April, and usually falls in
May and October, but rarely September. Precipitation is greatest in spring and
early summer, but even then it is not high. Highs reach 90 °F on 31 days per
year and fail to surpass freezing on 46. Lows drop to 0 °F on 18 nights per
winter. Demographics
= 2010 census= As of the census of 2010, there were
55,316 people, 22,794 households, and 14,237 families residing in the city.
The population density was 2,056.4 inhabitants per square mile. There were
24,536 housing units at an average density of 912.1 per square mile. 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 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. 30.3% of all households
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. = 2000 census=
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 2,073.2
people per square mile. There were 21,872 housing units at an average
density of 913.4 per square mile. 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.
29.1% of all households 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.
Economy Although relatively small by national
standards, Casper is a regional center of banking and commerce.
Since 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 40 miles 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, Wyoming. Development of Wyoming coal and uranium fields in
recent decades has helped Casper continue its role as a center in the
energy industry. Education
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. Public education in the city of Casper
is provided by Natrona County School District #1. The district operates
sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in
Casper. The high schools include Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, and Roosevelt
High Schools, There is also a program being added to Natrona County School
District called CAPS, it will serve as more space and classrooms for juniors
and seniors at any of the 3 Highschools. Media
Casper is served by two print newspapers, the Casper Star-Tribune, a
daily, and the Casper Journal, published weekly. Casper is also home to WyoFile,
an online publication focusing on state issues.
Sports UFC 6 took place at the Casper Events
Center in 1995 Casper hosted the AIFA Championship Bowl
III at the Casper Events Center on July 26, 2009.
Casper has hosted the College National Finals Rodeo since 2001.
Sports teams based in Casper include: Wyoming Cavalry, a minor league indoor
football team that ceased operating in 2014, formerly in the Indoor Football
League. Casper Cannibal RFC, an amateur rugby
football team in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union.
Casper Cutthroats, a for-profit team that plays in the Mountain Collegiate
Baseball League. Casper Coyotes, a Junior A hockey team
in the Western States Hockey League, that plays out of the Casper Ice Arena.
Culture = Museums and historical sites=
Casper is home to a number of museums and historical sites:
Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site. National Historic Trails Interpretive
Center, a federally funded and operated museum
Nicolaysen Art Museum Tate Geological Museum at Casper College
Werner Wildlife Museum = Performing arts and music=
Casper has three locations offering theatre: The Gertrude Krampert Theatre
at Casper College, Stage III Community Theatre, and the Casper Events Center
where an annual series of touring Broadway shows, Broadway in Casper, can
be seen. Casper is home to the Troopers, a drum
and bugle corps in Drum Corps International, and the Wyoming Symphony
Orchestra. During the summer months, Casper's City Band performs free
concerts Thursday evenings at Washington Park, weather permitting.
Transportation = Highways=
Interstate Highways: I-25
North-South Interstate running from New Mexico to Wyoming.
US Routes: US 20
East-West route through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper. At
exit 189 the highway continues west out of Casper, and no longer runs concurrent
with the interstate. The Business Route of US 20 follows N.
Beverly St. and Yellowstone Hwy. going East-West from I-25/US 87 to U.S. 20-26
west of Casper in Mills. US 26
East-West route through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper. At
exit 189 the highway continues west out of Casper, and no longer runs concurrent
with the interstate. The Business Route of US 26 follows N.
McKinley St. and Yellowstone Hwy. going East-West from I-25/US 87 to U.S. 20-26
west of Casper in Mills. US 87
North-South through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper.
Wyoming State Highways: WYO 220
East-West route from I-25/US 87 west out of Casper towards Alcova.
WYO 251 North-South route that continues south
out of Casper and up Casper Mountain, eventually ending at WYO 487.
WYO 252 North-South route from the intersection
of Poplar Street and CY avenue to Casper Mountain Road.
WYO 254 North-South route from I-25/US 87 south
to US 20-26 in Mills. WYO 255
North-South route from I-25 exit 188A to the intersection of S. Poplar and CY
Avenue, where CY Avenue continues as WY 220.
WYO 258 East-West loop route from I-25/US 87 to
US 20-26 west of Casper in Mills; the majority of the highway runs along the
southern borders of Casper. = Airports=
The city has scheduled air service at Casper/Natrona County International
Airport, a former army air base built during World War II. The current
airport, having been built for bombers, has large runways and replaced a prior
regional airport north of Casper which later became Bar Nunn. The airport is
located west of the city just off of US highway 20/26. In July 2004, the airport
facilities were renovated. Passenger service at the airport is offered by
United Express, Delta Connection, and Allegiant Airlines.
= Public transit= Public transit in the Casper area is
provided by the Casper Area Transportation Coalition. They offer
fixed route service called The Bus and an on request service called CATC.
= Scheduled bus service= Scheduled bus service once offered by
Power River Bus Lines is now offered by Black Hills Stage Lines.
Notable people John Barrasso, Republican U.S. Senator
from Wyoming Zane Beadles, former Utah Ute offensive
lineman and current member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Tom Browning, former major league pitcher, threw perfect game and while
with the Cincinnati Reds, won a World Series.
Dick Cheney, Vice President of United States under George W. Bush, Secretary
of Defense under George H.W. Bush, former CEO of Haliburton Company. Cheney
grew up in Casper, having moved there from his birthplace in Nebraska.
Lynne Cheney, wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney under President
George W. Bush Tom Coburn, U.S. senator from Oklahoma
Mike Devereaux, professional baseball player with World Series rings with Los
Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves Ron Franscell, journalist and crime
author Warren A. Morton, former Speaker of the
Wyoming House of Representatives; Casper oilman and engineer
Guy Padgett, politician, first openly gay elected official in Wyoming
Susan Pamerleau, retired United States Air Force major general and the
Republican sheriff of Bexar County, Texas, first woman elected, 2012; reared
for several years in Casper James Reeb, civil rights activist,
murdered in Selma, Alabama, 1965. Matthew Scully, author and speechwriter
Patrick Joseph Sullivan, mayor of Casper, Wyoming from 1897 to 1898 and
member of United States Senate from Wyoming from 1929 to 1930
Matthew Shepard, gay male murder victim for whom the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime
Act is named Floyd Volker, professional basketball
player See also
List of municipalities in Wyoming List of oil pipelines
References External links
City website Casper Star-Tribune
Casper Convention & Visitors Bureau Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
Casper Events Center Casper Recreation
City-Data website Vintage Life Magazine Photos of Casper
Casper Newspapers in the Wyoming Newspaper Project