Big Piney, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Big Piney is a town in Sublette County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 408 at the 2000 census
.
Cattle and oil have traditionally been its two primary industries.
In 1987, actress Glenn Close
co-produced a documentary about the vanishing cowboy of the American West, entitled, "Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys?" The film focused on several generations of cattle ranching families in Big Piney, originally shown as part of the PBS television series, "The American Experience." It was narrated by actor Robert Redford
.
The Wardell Buffalo Trap
, a canyon used by Native American
s to trap bison
, is in the vicinity of Big Piney. Its potential archeological
value led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
Big Piney was one of four international locations chosen for the 2006 documentary film Comrades in Dreams, about the impact of local movie theaters in four different cultures (North Korea, Burkina Faso, India and Wyoming).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all of it land.
Big Piney experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm summers. Because of the high elevation and aridity, large diurnal temperature differences are a regular feature of Big Piney's climate. Precipitation is very low and somewhat heavily concentrated in the warmer months.
of 2000, there were 408 people, 161 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,055.3 people per square mile (403.9/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 496.6 per square mile (190.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.53% White, 0.98% Native American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 161 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples
living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% 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 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,346, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $41,964 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,647. About 10.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
. Schools serving the town include Big Piney Elementary School (grades K-5), Big Piney Middle School (grades 6-8), and Big Piney High School (grades 9-12).
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 408 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
History
Big Piney is the oldest settlement in Sublette County. It was founded in 1879, when rancher Daniel B. Budd and his partner Hugh McKay came with a thousand head of cattle from Nevada hoping to ship them, but got caught instead in severe winter weather in the Green River Valley. The following year, Dan Budd relocated his family to what is now known as Big Piney.Cattle and oil have traditionally been its two primary industries.
In 1987, actress Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
co-produced a documentary about the vanishing cowboy of the American West, entitled, "Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys?" The film focused on several generations of cattle ranching families in Big Piney, originally shown as part of the PBS television series, "The American Experience." It was narrated by actor Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
.
The Wardell Buffalo Trap
Wardell Buffalo Trap
The Wardell Buffalo Trap in Sublette County, Wyoming is a small box canyon used by Native Americans for 500 years during the Late Prehistoric Period. Nearly of bison bones were found at the site...
, a canyon used by Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s to trap bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, is in the vicinity of Big Piney. Its potential archeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
value led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.
Big Piney was one of four international locations chosen for the 2006 documentary film Comrades in Dreams, about the impact of local movie theaters in four different cultures (North Korea, Burkina Faso, India and Wyoming).
Geography
Big Piney is located at 42°32′23"N 110°6′55"W (42.539768, -110.115350).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Sometimes known as the "Ice Box of the Nation," Big Piney has one of the coldest climates among inhabited locations in the Lower 48.Big Piney experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm summers. Because of the high elevation and aridity, large diurnal temperature differences are a regular feature of Big Piney's climate. Precipitation is very low and somewhat heavily concentrated in the warmer months.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 408 people, 161 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,055.3 people per square mile (403.9/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 496.6 per square mile (190.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.53% White, 0.98% Native American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 161 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% 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 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,346, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $41,964 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,647. About 10.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in the town of Big Piney is provided by Sublette County School District #9Sublette County School District Number 9
Sublette County School District #9 is a public school district based in Big Piney, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Sublette County School District #9 serves southwestern Sublette County and a...
. Schools serving the town include Big Piney Elementary School (grades K-5), Big Piney Middle School (grades 6-8), and Big Piney High School (grades 9-12).