City in Wyoming, United States
Riverton
is a city in
Fremont County
,
Wyoming
, United States. The city's population was 10,682 at the
2020 census
, making it the most populous city in the county.
History
[
edit
]
The city, founded in 1906,
[5]
is an incorporated entity of the state of Wyoming. The community was named Riverton because of the four rivers that meet there.
[6]
The town was built on land ceded from the
Wind River Indian Reservation
, a situation that often makes it subject to jurisdictional claims by the nearby
Eastern Shoshone
and
Northern Arapaho
tribes.
A legal ruling on November 7, 2017, by the
10th Circuit Court
, ruled again in the
EPA
reservation boundary dispute. Though the decision was complex, the 10th Circuit Court answered plainly. Riverton is not on the reservation. The 10th Circuit's decision is now official and final after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 2017 ruling. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the EPA, and held that the land had been ceded in 1905 by an Act of Congress. This ruling ends the dispute, bringing the debate and controversy to an end.
[7]
Riverton Regional Airport
(now Central Wyoming Regional Airport) is home to a
National Weather Service Forecast Office
and
NEXRAD
radar site which is responsible to cover all of western and central Wyoming.
The
Chicago & Northwestern Railway
completed an extension of the "Cowboy Line" through to Lander which is roughly 22 miles west of Riverton. Plans were to continue the line west from Lander. In 1972, the end of the line was moved from Lander and the new terminus of the line was in Riverton. Services were then discontinued in Riverton in the mid-1970's as the line was slowly dismantled west of Casper.
Demographics
[
edit
]
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1910
| 483
| | ?
|
---|
1920
| 2,023
| | 318.8%
|
---|
1930
| 1,608
| | ?20.5%
|
---|
1940
| 2,540
| | 58.0%
|
---|
1950
| 4,142
| | 63.1%
|
---|
1960
| 6,845
| | 65.3%
|
---|
1970
| 7,995
| | 16.8%
|
---|
1980
| 9,562
| | 19.6%
|
---|
1990
| 9,202
| | ?3.8%
|
---|
2000
| 9,310
| | 1.2%
|
---|
2010
| 10,615
| | 14.0%
|
---|
2020
| 10,682
| | 0.6%
|
---|
2010 census
[
edit
]
As of the
census
[9]
of 2010, there were 10,615 people, 4,252 households, and 2,600 families living in the city. The
population density
was 1,076.6 inhabitants per square mile (415.7/km
2
). There were 4,567 housing units at an average density of 463.2 per square mile (178.8/km
2
). The racial makeup of the city was 83.5%
White
, 0.5%
African American
, 10.4%
Native American
, 0.3%
Asian
, 0.1%
Pacific Islander
, 1.8% from
other races
, and 3.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic
or
Latino
of any race were 9.0% of the population.
There were 4,252 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were
married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
2000 census
[
edit
]
As of the
census
[4]
of 2000, there were 9,311 people, 3,816 households, and 2,407 families living in the city. The
population density
was 952.2 people per square mile (367.5/km
2
). There were 4,254 housing units at an average density of 435.1/sq mi (167.9/km
2
). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81%
White
, 0.17%
African American
, 8.08%
Native American
, 0.47%
Asian
, 0.03%
Pacific Islander
, 1.86% from
other races
, and 2.58% from two or more races.
Hispanic
or
Latino
of any race were 7.09% of the population.
There were 3,816 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were
married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $37,079. Males had a median income of $31,685 versus $19,157 for females. The
per capita income
for the city was $16,720. About 11.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the
poverty line
, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
[
edit
]
Riverton is located directly north of the
Wind River
.
U.S. Route 26
and
Wyoming Highway 789
pass through the city.
[10]
According to the
United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.87 square miles (25.56 km
2
), of which 9.86 square miles (25.54 km
2
) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km
2
) is water.
[11]
Climate
[
edit
]
According to the
Koppen Climate Classification
system, Riverton has a
cold semi-arid climate
, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Riverton was 104 °F (40 °C) on July 12, 1954, July 22, 1982, and July 14, 2005, while the coldest temperature recorded was ?46 °F (?43 °C) on January 17, 1930, January 12, 1963, December 31, 1978, January 1, 1979, and December 23, 1983.
[12]
Climate data for Riverton, Wyoming, 1991?2020 normals, extremes 1907?present
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Record high °F (°C)
|
63
(17)
|
71
(22)
|
78
(26)
|
87
(31)
|
96
(36)
|
102
(39)
|
104
(40)
|
103
(39)
|
98
(37)
|
90
(32)
|
73
(23)
|
65
(18)
|
104
(40)
|
Mean maximum °F (°C)
|
49.9
(9.9)
|
55.5
(13.1)
|
68.7
(20.4)
|
78.5
(25.8)
|
86.0
(30.0)
|
93.6
(34.2)
|
98.8
(37.1)
|
96.5
(35.8)
|
91.2
(32.9)
|
79.9
(26.6)
|
64.5
(18.1)
|
53.1
(11.7)
|
99.1
(37.3)
|
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)
|
28.7
(?1.8)
|
35.5
(1.9)
|
49.2
(9.6)
|
58.0
(14.4)
|
67.4
(19.7)
|
78.9
(26.1)
|
87.9
(31.1)
|
85.7
(29.8)
|
74.4
(23.6)
|
59.2
(15.1)
|
42.7
(5.9)
|
29.6
(?1.3)
|
58.1
(14.5)
|
Daily mean °F (°C)
|
16.4
(?8.7)
|
22.5
(?5.3)
|
35.7
(2.1)
|
44.2
(6.8)
|
53.8
(12.1)
|
63.7
(17.6)
|
71.3
(21.8)
|
69.0
(20.6)
|
58.4
(14.7)
|
44.8
(7.1)
|
29.9
(?1.2)
|
17.6
(?8.0)
|
43.9
(6.6)
|
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)
|
4.2
(?15.4)
|
9.6
(?12.4)
|
22.2
(?5.4)
|
30.5
(?0.8)
|
40.3
(4.6)
|
48.5
(9.2)
|
54.8
(12.7)
|
52.2
(11.2)
|
42.5
(5.8)
|
30.4
(?0.9)
|
17.1
(?8.3)
|
5.7
(?14.6)
|
29.8
(?1.2)
|
Mean minimum °F (°C)
|
?16.8
(?27.1)
|
?13.3
(?25.2)
|
2.8
(?16.2)
|
16.4
(?8.7)
|
26.7
(?2.9)
|
36.7
(2.6)
|
45.7
(7.6)
|
41.9
(5.5)
|
29.3
(?1.5)
|
13.4
(?10.3)
|
?2.8
(?19.3)
|
?14.0
(?25.6)
|
?22.4
(?30.2)
|
Record low °F (°C)
|
?46
(?43)
|
?45
(?43)
|
?24
(?31)
|
?18
(?28)
|
15
(?9)
|
26
(?3)
|
30
(?1)
|
29
(?2)
|
9
(?13)
|
?13
(?25)
|
?28
(?33)
|
?46
(?43)
|
?46
(?43)
|
Average
precipitation
inches (mm)
|
0.35
(8.9)
|
0.43
(11)
|
0.71
(18)
|
1.31
(33)
|
1.98
(50)
|
1.09
(28)
|
0.70
(18)
|
0.45
(11)
|
0.80
(20)
|
0.93
(24)
|
0.44
(11)
|
0.31
(7.9)
|
9.50
(241)
|
Average snowfall inches (cm)
|
5.5
(14)
|
7.4
(19)
|
6.5
(17)
|
7.2
(18)
|
2.1
(5.3)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.0
(0.0)
|
0.6
(1.5)
|
4.4
(11)
|
5.3
(13)
|
5.3
(13)
|
44.3
(111.8)
|
Average precipitation days
(≥ 0.01 in)
|
3.7
|
4.2
|
4.6
|
6.7
|
8.8
|
5.8
|
4.5
|
4.6
|
5.2
|
5.0
|
3.8
|
4.1
|
61.0
|
Average snowy days
(≥ 0.1 in)
|
4.2
|
4.9
|
3.8
|
3.4
|
1.3
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.3
|
2.0
|
3.6
|
4.6
|
28.1
|
Source 1: NOAA
[13]
|
Source 2: National Weather Service
[12]
|
Economy
[
edit
]
Brunton, Inc.
is home to the manufacturer of the
Brunton compass
.
Education
[
edit
]
Public education in the city of Riverton is provided by
Fremont County School District #25
. The district operates three K?3 elementary schools (Ashgrove, Willow Creek, and Jackson), Rendezvous Elementary School (grades 4?5), Riverton Middle School (grades 6?8), and
Riverton High School
(grades 9?12).
Central Wyoming College
is located in Riverton, with off-campus sites in
Jackson
,
Lander
,
Thermopolis
,
Dubois
, and the
Wind River Indian Reservation
.
Riverton has a
public library
, a branch of the Fremont County Library System.
[14]
The Northern Arapaho Language Immersion School had 20 students in 2009.
[15]
It was created by
Northern Arapaho
tribe to preserve the language, with only English classes being English medium. It was meant to open in August 2008.
[16]
It was inspired by immersion programs in
Hawaii
and
New Zealand
. Another school,
Arapahoe
School, received a federal grant intended to last for five years to have a bilingual program, though Arapaho instruction is more limited there.
[17]
Emergency Services
[
edit
]
Emergency services are provided by the Riverton Police Department, Riverton Volunteer Fire Department, Fremont County Fire Protection District Battalion 1, and Frontier Ambulance.
Notable people
[
edit
]
- Nick Bebout
(born 1951), professional football player
- Andi LeBeau
, elected as a
Democrat
to the
Wyoming House of Representatives
in 2018
- Lance Deal
(born 1961), four-time Olympic hammer thrower (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)
- John Bennett Herrington
(born 1958), first enrolled member of a
Native American
tribe to fly in space
- Bucky Jacobsen
(born 1975), former
Major League Baseball
first baseman for the
Seattle Mariners
- Leslie Lynch King Sr.
(1884?1941), lived for a time as an adult in Riverton, was the biological father of
Gerald Ford
- David Love
(1913?2002), geologist who was born on a ranch near Riverton
- Nyla Murphy
(1931?2015), served as a Republican member of the
Wyoming House of Representatives
and practiced law as an adult in Riverton
- Brett Newlin
(born 1982), rowed on the Olympic team for the United States in 2008 and 2012
- Kristen Newlin
(born 1985), international basketball player
- Chance Phelps
(1984?2004), subject of an
HBO
movie,
Taking Chance
- Kristi Racines
(c. 1983), the
Wyoming State Auditor
- Darrell Winfield
(1929?2015), "Marlboro Man"
[18]
- Willie Wright
(born 1968), a former American professional
football
player who was a
linebacker
and
tight end
in the
National Football League
(NFL) and the
World League of American Football
(WLAF).
- Andrew John Yellowbear Jr.
(born 1974), member of the Northern
Arapaho
tribe; notorious for the premeditated
first-degree murder
and torture of his 22-month-old daughter
- Ashlynn Yennie
, actress
Infrastructure
[
edit
]
Transportation
[
edit
]
Transit
[
edit
]
Wind River Transportation Authority
provides transit service throughout Fremont County.
Airline service
[
edit
]
A daily passenger service is available to Denver at
Central Wyoming Regional Airport
, with service provided by
SkyWest Airlines
operating as
United Express
. The airport also provides rental car services through
Hertz
as well as general aviation services.
Roadways
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Riverton, Wyoming
- ^
"2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
August 7,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Riverton"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
March 12,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
January 31,
2008
.
- ^
McFarland, Clair (April 18, 2024).
"Wyoming Tribes May Be On Path To Get 60,000 Acres Of Federal Land"
.
Cowboy State Daily
. Retrieved
April 19,
2024
.
- ^
"Profile for Riverton, Wyoming, WY"
. ePodunk
. Retrieved
July 27,
2012
.
- ^
"STATE OF WYOMING, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; E. SCOTT PRUITT"
(PDF)
.
Ca10.uscourts.gov
. Retrieved
January 9,
2018
.
- ^
"Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns"
. Wyoming Department of State / U.S. Census Bureau
. Retrieved
June 30,
2008
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
December 14,
2012
.
- ^
Riverton West, WY,
7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1951
- ^
"US Gazetteer files 2010"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Archived from
the original
on January 25, 2012
. Retrieved
December 14,
2012
.
- ^
a
b
"NOAA Online Weather Data"
. National Weather Service
. Retrieved
August 20,
2022
.
- ^
"U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access"
. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
. Retrieved
August 20,
2022
.
- ^
"Wyoming Public Libraries"
. PublicLibraries.com
. Retrieved
June 13,
2019
.
- ^
Reed, Martin (April 29, 2009).
"Kids get language immersion at Arapaho school"
.
The Oklahoman
.
Associated Press
. Retrieved
August 4,
2021
.
- ^
Merrill, Chris (February 6, 2008).
"Reviving a dying language"
.
Casper Star Tribune
. Retrieved
August 4,
2021
.
- ^
Merrill, Chris (February 6, 2008).
"Tribe: Plan follows successful models"
.
Jackson Hole Star Tribune
. Retrieved
August 4,
2021
.
- ^
"Darrell Winfield Obituary"
.
Davis Funeral Home, Riverton Wyoming
. Retrieved
January 9,
2018
.
External links
[
edit
]