Laramie County, Wyoming is located in the southeastern part of the state and is bordered by Albany County to the north, Platte County to the east, Goshen County to the south and Laramie Range to the west. The county covers an area of 2,681 square miles with elevations ranging from 4,875 feet in Cheyenne to 8,000 feet on Laramie Peak. The county has a semi-arid continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Average temperatures range from 25°F in January to 72°F in July. Average annual precipitation is 13 inches with snowfall averaging around 45 inches per year.
As of 2019, Laramie County had an estimated population of 95,872 people with a population density of 36 people per square mile. The largest city and county seat is Cheyenne which has a population of 65,165 people as of 2019. Other major cities include Pine Bluffs (population 1,542), Albin (population 541), Burns (population 482) and Hawk Springs (population 149). The racial makeup of Laramie County is 91.7% White non-Hispanic or Latino, 3% Hispanic or Latino, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native and 2% other races. In terms of religious affiliation; 43% are Protestant/Evangelical Christian while 32% are Catholic Christian and 22% have no religious affiliation.
Laramie County has an economy largely based on agriculture and mining. Major industries include livestock farming (beef cattle), oil & gas production and coal mining as well as tourism-related activities such as camping, hunting and fishing in nearby national forests. Additionally, there are several large employers in Cheyenne such as Warren Air Force Base which employs over 10 thousand workers along with many other government agencies located in the city’s downtown area.
Economy of Laramie County, Wyoming
Laramie County, Wyoming is largely an agricultural and mining economy. Agriculture is the mainstay of the county’s economy with beef cattle farming being the most prominent sector. Other agricultural commodities produced in the county include hay, corn, wheat and barley. Oil and gas production and coal mining are also major industries in Laramie County with many large oil fields located throughout the county. The tourism industry is also a significant contributor to the local economy with many visitors coming to explore nearby national forests for camping, hunting and fishing opportunities.
The largest employer in Laramie County is Warren Air Force Base which employs over 10 thousand workers along with many other government agencies located in Cheyenne’s downtown area. The University of Wyoming is also a major employer in the county providing nearly 3 thousand jobs to area residents. Additionally, there are several major employers in Cheyenne such as HollyFrontier Corporation (oil refining), UPS Freight (trucking), United Parcel Service (shipping) and Union Pacific Railroad (railroad transportation).
In terms of economic output, Laramie County had an estimated total output of $3 billion as of 2018 with a per capita personal income of $48,903 which was higher than both the state ($45,550) and national ($49,246) averages. The unemployment rate was 4% as of 2019 which was lower than both state (4.1%) and national (3.7%) averages for that year. In terms of poverty rate; 9% of Laramie County’s population lived below the poverty line as compared to 11% statewide and 12% nationally during 2019 according to U.S Census Bureau estimates
Libraries in Laramie County, Wyoming
According to babyinger, Laramie County, Wyoming is home to a number of public and private libraries that serve the educational and recreational needs of its residents. The most prominent library in the county is the Laramie County Library System, which consists of five branches located in Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs, Burns, Hillsdale and Albin. The library system offers a variety of services including books, magazines, newspapers and audio-visual materials for loan as well as computers with internet access for patrons. Additionally, the library hosts a variety of educational programs such as story times for children and book clubs for adults.
The University of Wyoming also has its own library system which consists of three libraries located on the main campus in Laramie along with other branch libraries located throughout the state. The University Libraries provide access to a wide range of print and digital resources including books, periodicals, databases and e-books as well as specialized collections such as rare books and manuscripts. Additionally, the University Libraries offer academic support services such as tutoring and research assistance.
In addition to public libraries, there are several private libraries located in Laramie County. These include the Cheyenne Public Library which was established in 1867 by Colonel William Fetterman; it is one of the oldest public libraries in Wyoming. There is also the Hazen Memorial Library which was founded by Mrs. Ellen Hazen in 1896; it specializes in genealogical research materials related to early settlers in Wyoming Territory. Finally, there is also an online library provided by WyoLibraries which offers access to a wide range of electronic resources such as e-books, audiobooks and databases from anywhere with an internet connection.
Landmarks in Laramie County, Wyoming
According to DIRECTORYAAH, Laramie County, Wyoming is home to a number of historic and notable landmarks. One of the most recognizable is the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, which was established in 1897 and features exhibits on the history of the American West. The museum is located in a building that was once part of Fort D.A. Russell, which was an important military post during the Indian Wars of the late 19th century. The museum houses a variety of artifacts from this period including guns, photographs and Native American artifacts.
Another landmark in Laramie County is Curt Gowdy State Park, which covers more than 8,000 acres and features several reservoirs for fishing and boating as well as hiking trails and camping sites. The park is named after Curt Gowdy, an American sportscaster who was born in Cheyenne and known for his broadcasts on Monday Night Football and other sports-related events.
The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is another noteworthy landmark in Laramie County; it was originally built in 1872 to house some of the most notorious outlaws in the Old West including Butch Cassidy and Tom Horn. Today, visitors can explore several buildings including a guard tower, cells and other structures related to prison life during this period in history.
Finally, there is also the Historic Governors’ Mansion which served as residence for many Wyoming governors from 1886 to 1976; today it serves as a museum with exhibits focusing on Wyoming’s political history as well as artwork from local artists. Other notable landmarks in Laramie County include Vedauwoo Recreation Area, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Terry Bison Ranch Resort.