Lusk, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Lusk is a town in Niobrara County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 1,447 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Niobrara County. The town was laid out in June 1886 by engineers working on the Wyoming Central Railway
. It was named after Frank S. Lusk (1857–1930), a renowned Wyoming rancher and Wyoming Central stockholder.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land.
Lusk experiences a dry continental climate
(Köppen
Dfb) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
of 2000, there were 1,447 people, 611 households, and 381 families residing in the town. The population density
was 721.7 people per square mile (278.0/km²). There were 782 housing units at an average density of 390.0 per square mile (150.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.86% White, 0.21% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
There were 611 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,760, and the median income for a family was $37,583. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,847. About 9.2% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Lusk Post Office.
. Schools serving the town include Lusk Elementary/Middle School (grades K-8) and Niobrara County 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 1,447 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...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Niobrara County. The town was laid out in June 1886 by engineers working on the Wyoming Central Railway
Wyoming Central Railway
Wyoming Central Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The railroad was incorporated in October 1885 and built a line from Chadron, Nebraska through Douglas to Casper. The line was initially leased to the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad and the two railroads...
. It was named after Frank S. Lusk (1857–1930), a renowned Wyoming rancher and Wyoming Central stockholder.
Geography
Lusk is located at 42°45′38"N 104°27′10"W (42.760674, -104.452729).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 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land.
Lusk experiences a dry continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(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...
Dfb) with cold, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
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 1,447 people, 611 households, and 381 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 721.7 people per square mile (278.0/km²). There were 782 housing units at an average density of 390.0 per square mile (150.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.86% White, 0.21% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.41% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
There were 611 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,760, and the median income for a family was $37,583. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $17,188 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 $15,847. About 9.2% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Women's Center is located in Lusk. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and ReformWyoming Board of Charities and Reform
The Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform was a state agency of Wyoming that operated the state's charitable and penal institutions.-History:...
until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Lusk Post Office.
Education
Public education in the town of Lusk is provided by Niobrara County School District #1Niobrara County School District Number 1
Niobrara County School District #1 is a public school district based in Lusk, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Niobrara County School District #1 serves all of Niobrara County and a small portion of northwestern Goshen County...
. Schools serving the town include Lusk Elementary/Middle School (grades K-8) and Niobrara County High School (grades 9-12).
Notable natives and residents
- Thomas Wilson BrownThomas Wilson BrownThomas Wilson Brown is an American actor, who began his career at the age of eleven by playing Augie, the nephew of Scott Glenn and Kevin Costners' characters in the Lawrence Kasden western classic Silverado....
, actor - Dick EllsworthDick EllsworthRichard Clark Ellsworth is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers . Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth...
, Major League Baseball pitcher - James G. WattJames G. WattJames Gaius Watt served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior for President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1983.-Early life and career:...
, United States Secretary of the InteriorUnited States Secretary of the InteriorThe United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
for much of Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's first term
Further reading
- Doussard, Evelyn Rogina. Dusty Roads (ISBN 978-1-4343-7818-7).