Editing Weston County, Wyoming

{{Short description|County in Wyoming, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county         = Weston County
| state              = Wyoming
| seal               = 
| flag               = Flag of Weston County, Wyoming.gif
| founded       = March 12, 1890
| seat wl            = Newcastle
| largest city       = Newcastle
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2400
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2398
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.9
| area percentage    = 0.08%
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_total   = 6838
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| population_est     = 6808 {{loss}}
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| web            = westongov.com
| ex image           = Weston County Courthouse Wyoming.JPG
| ex image cap       = [[Weston County Courthouse]] in Newcastle
| time zone          = Mountain
| district           = At-large
|named for=Jefferson B. Weston
|area_total_km2=6216|area_land_km2=6211|area_water_km2=4.9}}

'''Weston County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wyoming]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 6,838.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/56/56045.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130223819/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/56/56045.html |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |access-date=January 25, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Newcastle, Wyoming|Newcastle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its east boundary line abuts the western boundary of the state of [[South Dakota]].

==History==
Weston County was created by the legislature of the [[Wyoming Territory]] on March 12, 1890, of land partitioned from [[Crook County, Wyoming|Crook County]].<ref name="chronology">{{Cite web |last=Long |first=John H. |year=2006 |title=Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies |url=http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Wyoming/documents/WY_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#Individual_County_Chronologies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718043802/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Wyoming/documents/WY_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#Individual_County_Chronologies |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |access-date=September 6, 2011 |website=Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=The Newberry Library}}</ref>

Weston County was named for John Weston, a geologist and surveyor.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Urbanek |first=Mae |title=Wyoming Place Names |publisher=Mountain Press Publ. Co. |year=1988 |isbn=0-87842-204-8 |location=Missoula MT}}</ref> In 1887, Jefferson Weston and Frank Mondell found rich coal deposits north of [[Newcastle, Wyoming|Newcastle]] which caused a railroad to be built through the area.

In 1911, [[Campbell County, Wyoming|Campbell County]] was formed from portions of Weston County and [[Crook County, Wyoming|Crook County]]. Since then, the boundaries of Weston County have been stable.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2400|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2398|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (0.08%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_56.txt |access-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
*[[Crook County, Wyoming|Crook County]] – north
*[[Lawrence County, South Dakota]] – northeast
*[[Pennington County, South Dakota]] – east
*[[Custer County, South Dakota]] – southeast
*[[Niobrara County, Wyoming|Niobrara County]] – south
*[[Converse County, Wyoming|Converse County]] – southwest
*[[Campbell County, Wyoming|Campbell County]] – west
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
*[[Image:US 16.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 16 in Wyoming|U.S. Highway 16]]
*[[Image:US 20.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 20 in Wyoming|U.S. Highway 20]]
*[[Image:US 85.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 85 in Wyoming|U.S. Highway 85]]
*[[Image:WY-116.svg|20px]] [[Wyoming Highway 116]]
*[[Image:WY-450.svg|20px]] [[Wyoming Highway 450]]
*[[Image:WY-585.svg|20px]] [[Wyoming Highway 585]]
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
*[[Black Hills National Forest]] (part)
*[[Thunder Basin National Grassland]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 2422
| 1900 = 3203
| 1910 = 4960
| 1920 = 4631
| 1930 = 4673
| 1940 = 4958
| 1950 = 6733
| 1960 = 7929
| 1970 = 6307
| 1980 = 7106
| 1990 = 6518
| 2000 = 6644
| 2010 = 7208
| 2020 = 6838
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 6808
| estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/westoncountywyoming/PST045223 |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1870–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns |url=http://eadiv.state.wy.us/demog_data/pop2000/cntycity_hist.htm |access-date=January 25, 2014 |publisher=Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis}}</ref> 2010<ref name=QF/>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 6,644 people, 2,624 households, and 1,868 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.93% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.54% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 33.0% were of [[German people|German]], 13.0% [[English people|English]], 8.9% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 7.2% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 2,624 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.

The county population contained 24.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,348, and the median income for a family was $40,472. Males had a median income of $34,321 versus $18,640 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,366. About 6.30% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 7,208 people, 3,021 households, and 1,957 families in the county.<ref name="DC">{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US56045 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034608/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US56045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|3.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US56045 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162007/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US56045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.<ref name=DC/> In terms of ancestry, 31.7% were [[Germans|German]], 19.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 18.5% were [[English people|English]], 6.6% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 6.1% were [[Swedes|Swedish]], and 5.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US56045 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020950/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US56045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of the 3,021&nbsp;households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 42.3 years.<ref name=DC/>

The median income for a household in the county was $53,853 and the median income for a family was $63,438. Males had a median income of $53,095 versus $28,724 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,463. About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US56045 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024633/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US56045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Newcastle, Wyoming|Newcastle]] (county seat)

===Town===
* [[Upton, Wyoming|Upton]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Hill View Heights, Wyoming|Hill View Heights]]
* [[Osage, Wyoming|Osage]]

===Other places===
* [[Buckhorn, Wyoming|Buckhorn]]<ref>{{GNIS|1597235}}</ref>
* [[Clareton, Wyoming|Clareton]]
* [[Four Corners, Wyoming|Four Corners]]

==Politics==
Like all of the High Plains, and almost all of Wyoming, Weston County is overwhelmingly Republican. Since Wyoming statehood in 1890, it has been carried by a Democrat just three times. Woodrow Wilson carried the county in 1912 as a result of a split between the conservative incumbent [[William Howard Taft]] and [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] ex-President [[Theodore Roosevelt]], whilst in his two 1930s landslides Franklin D. Roosevelt became the other Democrat to win Weston County, although he defeated Republican [[Alf Landon]] in 1936 by just 109 votes.

Subsequent to [[Lyndon Johnson]] losing the county to [[Barry Goldwater]] by just fifty-four votes in 1964, no Democrat has passed 35 percent of Weston County's vote. Indeed, [[Bill Clinton]] in 1996 was the last Democratic to pass twenty percent.

{{PresHead|place=Weston County, Wyoming|source=<ref>Dave Leip's US Election Atlas; [https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2016&fips=56045&f=0&off=0&elect=0 2016 Presidential General Election Results – Weston County, WY] (and earlier years)</ref>}}
<!--{{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote No.|Dem. vote No.|Third party vote No.|State}}-->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,069|378|65|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,107|360|75|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,033|299|194|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,821|422|116|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,618|658|117|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,739|580|73|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,521|449|90|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,763|871|540|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,465|727|835|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,988|699|37|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,614|482|31|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,219|584|167|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,770|934|10|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,063|520|46|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,497|610|266|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,473|1,419|0|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,743|1,201|0|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,837|1,031|0|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,931|839|4|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|962|822|4|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,097|754|0|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,292|985|7|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,084|1,193|18|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|840|1,459|47|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,127|688|24|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|794|317|640|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,073|463|27|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|791|734|61|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|449|459|397|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|723|478|36|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|810|221|12|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|548|338|0|Wyoming}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|451|319|6|Wyoming}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|294|0|220|Wyoming}}

The [[Wyoming Department of Corrections]] [[Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Boot Camp]] is located in [[Newcastle, Wyoming|Newcastle]].<ref>[http://doc.state.wy.us/doc/contactinstitutions.html Contact Institutions]. [[Wyoming Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US5656215&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Newcastle city, Wyoming]{{dead link|date=March 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}. US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2010.</ref> The facility was operated by the [[Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform]] until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.<ref>[http://doc.state.wy.us/about/index.html About the Department of Corrections]. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref>

==See also==

*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Weston County, Wyoming]]
*[[Wyoming]]
**[[List of cities and towns in Wyoming]]
**[[List of counties in Wyoming]]
**[[Wyoming statistical areas]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Weston County, Wyoming}}
*[http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/weston-county-wyoming History of Weston County]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Weston County, Wyoming
|North     = [[Crook County, Wyoming|Crook County]]
|Northeast = [[Lawrence County, South Dakota]]
|East      = [[Pennington County, South Dakota]]
|Southeast = [[Custer County, South Dakota]]
|South     = [[Niobrara County, Wyoming|Niobrara County]]
|Southwest = [[Converse County, Wyoming|Converse County]]
|West      = [[Campbell County, Wyoming|Campbell County]]
}}

{{Weston County, Wyoming}}
{{Wyoming}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|43.84|-104.56|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WY_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Weston County, Wyoming| ]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1890]]
[[Category:Black Hills]]