Converse County, Wyoming

Converse County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 13,751.[1] Its county seat is Douglas.[2]

Converse County
Wyoming State Fair
Map of Wyoming highlighting Converse County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°58′N 105°30′W / 42.97°N 105.5°W / 42.97; -105.5
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedMarch 9, 1888
Named forA.R. Converse
SeatDouglas
Largest cityDouglas
Area
 • Total
4,265 sq mi (11,050 km2)
 • Land4,255 sq mi (11,020 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,751
 • Density3.2/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websiteconversecounty.org
Dave Johnston power plant, a large coal-fired generating station at Glenrock, owned by PacifiCorp

History

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Converse County was created in 1888 by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory, of area annexed from Albany and Laramie counties.[3]

Converse County was named for A.R. Converse, a banker and rancher from Cheyenne, Wyoming, who was co-owner with Francis E. Warren in a large ranch in the eastern part of Converse County.[4]

A portion of Converse County territory was annexed for the formation of Niobrara County in 1911. Converse County was slightly enlarged with territory from Albany County in 1955 after a special election.

Geography

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According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,265 square miles (11,050 km2), of which 4,255 square miles (11,020 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5]

 
Landscape in Converse County

Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Major highways

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Transit

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18902,738
19003,33721.9%
19106,29488.6%
19207,87125.1%
19307,145−9.2%
19406,631−7.2%
19505,933−10.5%
19606,3667.3%
19705,938−6.7%
198014,069136.9%
199011,128−20.9%
200012,0528.3%
201013,83314.8%
202013,751−0.6%
2023 (est.)13,809[6]0.4%
US Decennial Census[7]
1870–2000[8] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census,[9] there were 12,052 people, 4,694 households, and 3,407 families in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 5,669 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.72% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.46% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 5.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.6% were of German, 13.5% American, 12.2% English and 11.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 4,694 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. Of 4,694 households, 253 were unmarried partner households: 228 heterosexual, 12 same-sex male, and 13 same-sex female.

23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

The county population contained 28.50% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,603, and the median income for a family was $45,905. Males had a median income of $36,443 versus $19,032 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,744. About 9.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,833 people, 5,673 households, and 3,860 families in the county.[10] The population density was 3.3 people per square mile (1.3 people/km2). There were 6,403 housing units at an average density of 1.5 units per square mile (0.58 units/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.7% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.3% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 36.8% were German, 19.8% were Irish, 18.0% were English, and 6.2% were American.[12]

Of the 5,673 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.0% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 39.0 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $54,599 and the median income for a family was $69,057. Males had a median income of $54,863 versus $32,025 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,656. About 4.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Like most of Wyoming, Converse County is overwhelmingly Republican. Since Wyoming statehood in 1890, it has only been won by two Democrats – Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936 – and even these two won the county by no more than eight percentage points. The last Democrat to win forty percent of the county's vote was Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and the last to pass so much as 22 percent was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Converse County, Wyoming[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,756 85.41% 845 12.54% 138 2.05%
2020 5,917 84.89% 861 12.35% 192 2.75%
2016 5,520 82.96% 668 10.04% 466 7.00%
2012 5,043 79.50% 1,089 17.17% 211 3.33%
2008 4,922 76.30% 1,380 21.39% 149 2.31%
2004 4,447 77.68% 1,184 20.68% 94 1.64%
2000 3,919 75.73% 1,076 20.79% 180 3.48%
1996 2,702 55.02% 1,520 30.95% 689 14.03%
1992 2,159 45.44% 1,307 27.51% 1,285 27.05%
1988 2,885 68.45% 1,301 30.87% 29 0.69%
1984 3,542 78.31% 929 20.54% 52 1.15%
1980 2,987 70.63% 922 21.80% 320 7.57%
1976 2,188 65.37% 1,150 34.36% 9 0.27%
1972 2,312 77.07% 682 22.73% 6 0.20%
1968 1,658 69.61% 492 20.65% 232 9.74%
1964 1,559 55.50% 1,250 44.50% 0 0.00%
1960 1,933 67.61% 926 32.39% 0 0.00%
1956 1,855 71.18% 751 28.82% 0 0.00%
1952 2,056 70.51% 850 29.15% 10 0.34%
1948 1,327 56.76% 996 42.60% 15 0.64%
1944 1,601 62.05% 979 37.95% 0 0.00%
1940 1,889 57.49% 1,395 42.45% 2 0.06%
1936 1,556 47.86% 1,639 50.42% 56 1.72%
1932 1,569 45.13% 1,860 53.49% 48 1.38%
1928 2,040 70.52% 845 29.21% 8 0.28%
1924 1,758 58.46% 524 17.43% 725 24.11%
1920 1,561 69.41% 679 30.19% 9 0.40%
1916 766 45.60% 879 52.32% 35 2.08%
1912 540 39.16% 436 31.62% 403 29.22%
1908 1,030 58.36% 716 40.57% 19 1.08%
1904 1,098 72.33% 395 26.02% 25 1.65%
1900 795 66.19% 406 33.81% 0 0.00%
1896 585 55.35% 459 43.42% 13 1.23%
1892 494 54.23% 0 0.00% 417 45.77%

Education

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The county has two school districts: Converse County School District 1 and Converse County School District 2.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Long, John H. (2006). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ Boxelder WY Google Maps (accessed 9 January 2019)
  15. ^ Parkerton WY Google Maps (accessed 9 January 2019)
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Converse County, WY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
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42°58′N 105°30′W / 42.97°N 105.50°W / 42.97; -105.50