Washakie County, Wyoming

Washakie County
Washakie County
County
	Indian Totem in Worland
	Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
	Wyoming's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 43°55′N 107°41′W / 43.91°N 107.68°W
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
Founded	February 21, 1911 (authorized); 1913 (organized)
Named for	Chief Washakie
Seat	Worland
Largest city	Worland
Area
• Total	2,243 sq mi (5,810 km2)
• Land	2,239 sq mi (5,800 km2)
• Water	4.2 sq mi (11 km2) 0.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	7,685
• Density	3.4/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district	At-large
Website	www.washakiecounty.net

Washakie County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,685.^[1] Its county seat is Worland.^[2]

History

Washakie County was created on February 21, 1911, as Hanover County with land detached from Big Horn County and organized in 1913.^[3] The bill for creating the county initially named it "Hanover County", but it was renamed before the bill passed to Washakie County for the head chief of the Shoshone people, Chief Washakie, who became an ally of the US Government.^[4]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,243 square miles (5,810 km²), of which 2,239 square miles (5,800 km²) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[5]

Adjacent counties

Big Horn County – north
Johnson County – east
Natrona County – southeast
Fremont County – south
Hot Springs County – west
Park County – northwest

National protected area

Bighorn National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	3,106		—
1930	4,109		32.3%
1940	5,858		42.6%
1950	7,252		23.8%
1960	8,883		22.5%
1970	7,569		−14.8%
1980	9,496		25.5%
1990	8,388		−11.7%
2000	8,289		−1.2%
2010	8,533		2.9%
2020	7,685		−9.9%
2023 (est.)	7,710	^[6]	0.3%
US Decennial Census^[7] 1870–2000^[8] 2010^[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[9] there were 8,289 people, 3,278 households, and 2,310 families in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 3,654 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.22% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 6.21% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 11.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.1% were of German, 13.1% English, 9.9% Irish and 6.2% American ancestry.

There were 3,278 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,943, and the median income for a family was $42,584. Males had a median income of $31,633 versus $21,028 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,780. About 10.00% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,533 people, 3,492 households, and 2,395 families in the county.^[10] The population density was 3.8 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of 1.7 units per square mile (0.66 units/km²).^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 91.4% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 4.4% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.6% of the population.^[10] In terms of ancestry, 33.1% were German, 17.6% were English, 11.7% were Irish, 6.6% were American, and 5.5% were Norwegian.^[12]

Of the 3,492 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 41.8 years.^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $48,379 and the median income for a family was $61,340. Males had a median income of $45,579 versus $30,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,557. About 1.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.^[13]

Communities

City

Worland (county seat)

Town

Ten Sleep

Unincorporated communities

Government and infrastructure

Like almost all of Wyoming, Washakie County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Washakie County since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1936 landslide against Alf Landon. Although Lyndon Johnson did get within eighteen votes of Barry Goldwater, no Democrat since has reached one-third of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Washakie County, Wyoming^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,245	80.88%	651	16.23%	116	2.89%
2016	2,911	76.32%	532	13.95%	371	9.73%
2012	3,014	76.42%	794	20.13%	136	3.45%
2008	2,956	72.29%	1,042	25.48%	91	2.23%
2004	3,200	77.78%	855	20.78%	59	1.43%
2000	3,138	77.46%	806	19.90%	107	2.64%
1996	2,250	56.73%	1,205	30.38%	511	12.88%
1992	1,720	43.19%	1,118	28.08%	1,144	28.73%
1988	2,538	67.36%	1,197	31.77%	33	0.88%
1984	3,245	76.30%	970	22.81%	38	0.89%
1980	2,634	67.59%	945	24.25%	318	8.16%
1976	2,361	66.68%	1,168	32.99%	12	0.34%
1972	2,604	75.92%	825	24.05%	1	0.03%
1968	2,038	64.01%	948	29.77%	198	6.22%
1964	1,713	50.26%	1,695	49.74%	0	0.00%
1960	2,254	62.70%	1,341	37.30%	0	0.00%
1956	2,265	69.61%	989	30.39%	0	0.00%
1952	2,148	70.82%	880	29.01%	5	0.16%
1948	1,074	55.79%	851	44.21%	0	0.00%
1944	1,130	59.26%	777	40.74%	0	0.00%
1940	1,080	53.12%	942	46.34%	11	0.54%
1936	810	41.26%	1,109	56.50%	44	2.24%
1932	711	40.61%	1,009	57.62%	31	1.77%
1928	966	70.72%	392	28.70%	8	0.59%
1924	724	60.13%	209	17.36%	271	22.51%
1920	609	64.31%	333	35.16%	5	0.53%
1916	344	42.05%	455	55.62%	19	2.32%
1912	258	38.22%	221	32.74%	196	29.04%

The Wyoming Department of Family Services Juvenile Services Division operates the Wyoming Boys' School, located in Mc Nutt,^[15] unincorporated Washakie County, near Worland.^[16] 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.^[17]