Editing Fort Bridger, Wyoming

{{Short description|Census-designated place in Uinta County, Wyoming, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fort Bridger, Wyoming
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Uinta County Wyoming incorporated and unincorporated areas Fort Bridger highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Uinta County, Wyoming|Uinta County]] and the state of [[Wyoming]]
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Wyoming]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Wyoming|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Uinta County, Wyoming|Uinta]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  =  Imperial
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 5.2
|area_land_km2            = 5.2
|area_water_km2           = 0.0
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.0
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.0
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.0

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[United States Census, 2020|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 354
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain (MST)]]
|utc_offset               = -7
|timezone_DST             = MDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -6
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="gnis"/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 6674
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|19|7|N|110|23|11|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 82933
|area_code                = [[Area code 307|307]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 56-27940<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1588631<ref name="gnis"/>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fort Bridger''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in eastern [[Uinta County, Wyoming|Uinta County]], [[Wyoming]], United States.<ref name="gnis">{{gnis|1588631|Fort Bridger}}</ref> The population was 354 at the [[United States Census 2020|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Bridger CDP, Wyoming |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau Quick Facts |access-date=11 July 2012 }}</ref>  The community takes its name from the eponymous [[Fort Bridger]], established in 1842, which is located within the boundaries of the CDP.

==History==
Fort Bridger was established in 1843 by [[Jim Bridger]] and [[Louis Vasquez]]. It served as a trading post for those who were traveling westward along the [[Oregon Trail]], as well as [[Mormon pioneers|LDS Pioneers]], the [[Pony Express]], the [[Lincoln Highway]], and the [[transcontinental railroad]]. The fort was also commonly used to trade with the local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].<ref name="Fort Bridger {{!}} WyoHistory.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/fort-bridger|title=Fort Bridger {{!}} WyoHistory.org|website=www.wyohistory.org|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>

The fort was not very glamorous, it was even a disappointment to most travelers. It was simply two log cabins about {{convert|40|ft|m}} in length connected by a fence to hold horses. Most visitors complained about insufficient supplies and it being overpriced. They did, however, have a blacksmith's shop that many travelers took advantage of.<ref name="Fort Bridger {{!}} WyoHistory.org"/>

By 1858, Fort Bridger became a military outpost. Today, Fort Bridger is a historic site. Jim Bridger’s trading post is reconstructed, along with other historic buildings from the military. There is also a museum with gift shops available for visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=17|title=Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails  - Fort Bridger Historic Site|website=wyoparks.state.wy.us|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002073911/http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=17|archive-date=2016-10-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
Fort Bridger is located at {{coord|41|19|7|N|110|23|11|W|type:city}} (41.318716, -110.386418).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of 2.0&nbsp;square miles (5.2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 400
|2010= 345
|2020= 354
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 400 people, 158 households, and 114 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 200.6 people per square mile (77.6/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 183 housing units at an average density of 91.8/sq&nbsp;mi (35.5/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.00% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.75% of the population.

There were 158 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,031, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $36,354 versus $17,344 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,662. About 11.6% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Public education in the community of Fort Bridger is provided by [[Uinta County School District Number 4|Uinta County School District #4]]. The district operates two campuses – Mountain View K–8 (grades K–8), and [[Mountain View High School (Wyoming)|Mountain View High School]] (grades 9–12).

==Events==
* [[Fort Bridger Rendezvous]], annual reenactment of trading

==Notable people==
* [[Jim Bridger]] — explorer and founder of Fort Bridger
* [[Mark Hopkinson]] - convicted murderer and the only post-[[Furman v. Georgia|''Furman'']] execution in Wyoming
* [[Ron Micheli]] — rancher and former Wyoming politician

==See also==
{{portal|Wyoming}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Wyoming]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Fort Bridger, Wyoming}}

{{Uinta County, Wyoming}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Uinta County, Wyoming]]