Wright, Wyoming
Encyclopedia
Wright is a town in Campbell County, Wyoming
, United States
. The population was 1,504 at the 2010 census
.
, the largest mine in the Powder River Basin
and most productive mine in the United States
. The town itself was incorporated in 1985. On August 12, 2005, an F2 rated tornado struck a mobile home park at Wright, destroying 91 homes, damaging others, and killing two people.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,347 people, 475 households, and 388 families residing in the town. The population density
was 490.0 people per square mile (189.1/km²). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 197.9 per square mile (76.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.82% from other races
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 1.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,125, and the median income for a family was $55,764. Males had a median income of $46,058 versus $22,955 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,126. About 3.9% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.
. Zoned campuses include Cottonwood Elementary School (grades K-6) and Wright Junior/Senior High School http://www.ccsd.k12.wy.us/schools/WJSH/WJSH.html (grades 7-12).
Having been established as a mining town, the majority of people living in Wright are employed by the various mines surrounding it. A new power plant is under construction several miles out of town.
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 1,504 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
History
Settlement began in the area near Wright in the 1970s, with the creation of the Black Thunder Coal MineBlack Thunder Coal Mine
The Black Thunder Coal Mine is a surface coal mine in the U.S. state of Wyoming, located at in the Powder River Basin which contains one of the largest deposits of coal in the world. Black Thunder is the second most productive mine in the United States and one of the largest in the world,...
, the largest mine in the Powder River Basin
Powder River Basin
The Powder River Basin is a geologic region in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming, about east to west and north to south, known for its coal deposits. The region supplies about 40 percent of coal in the United States. It is both a topographic drainage and geologic structural basin...
and most productive mine in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town itself was incorporated in 1985. On August 12, 2005, an F2 rated tornado struck a mobile home park at Wright, destroying 91 homes, damaging others, and killing two people.
Geography
Wright is located at 43°45′18"N 105°29′26"W (43.754988, -105.490691).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 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²), all of it land.
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 1,347 people, 475 households, and 388 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 490.0 people per square mile (189.1/km²). There were 544 housing units at an average density of 197.9 per square mile (76.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.62% White, 0.45% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.82% 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 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 1.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,125, and the median income for a family was $55,764. Males had a median income of $46,058 versus $22,955 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 $20,126. About 3.9% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 33.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in the town of Wright is provided by Campbell County School District #1Campbell County School District Number 1
Campbell County School District #1 is a public school district based in Gillette, Wyoming, United States.-Geography:Campbell County School District #1 serves all of Campbell County...
. Zoned campuses include Cottonwood Elementary School (grades K-6) and Wright Junior/Senior High School http://www.ccsd.k12.wy.us/schools/WJSH/WJSH.html (grades 7-12).
Community
A branch of the Campbell County Public Library resides in the town, as well as a branch of Campco Federal Credit Union and The Campbell County Recreation Center.Having been established as a mining town, the majority of people living in Wright are employed by the various mines surrounding it. A new power plant is under construction several miles out of town.