Wapiti Ranger Station

Wapiti Ranger Station is the oldest United States Forest Service ranger station in the United States.[3] The station is located in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming, and has been used continuously since it was built in 1903. The station was the first forest service ranger station built with federal funding. Constructed with native forest timber, the structure is maintained regularly, with some recent improvements – such as replacing some rotting timber – implemented in 2005.

A location called Wapiti Station is featured in the 2016 game Firewatch, which is set in the Shoshone National Forest. However, its depiction and location within the forest do not resemble Wapiti Ranger Station.

Wheatland, Wyoming

Before the late 19th century, the area around the future site of Wheatland was a flat, arid landscape with desert-like vegetation. In 1883 local rancher and judge Joseph M. Carey, along with Horace Plunkett, John Hoyt, Morton Post, Francis E. Warren, William Irvine, and Andrew Gilchrist, established the Wyoming Development Company. The company hoped to irrigate in the Wheatland Flats and profit from new development.[7]

By the fall of 1883 an irrigation system was constructed on the Wheatland flats including a 2,380 foot long tunnel to divert water for irrigation into Bluegrass Creek and the first two of the system's canals.[8] The Cheyenne and Northern Railway line reached the Wheatland flats in July, 1887, eventually extending to the Wyoming Central Railway at Wendover. Lots in the town of Wheatland were auctioned in 1894. By 1915 many farms were established in the irrigation district and the population of the flats was 5,277.[7]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,627 people, 1,657 households, and 974 families residing in the town. The population density was 884.6 inhabitants per square mile (341.5/km2). There were 1,879 housing units at an average density of 458.3 per square mile (177.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.1% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.4% of the population.

Wilson, Wyoming

Wilson is a census-designated place (CDP) in Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,482 at the 2010 census, up from 1,294 in 2000. It is part of the Jackson, WY–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Wilson was pioneered in 1889 by Elijah Nicholas Wilson, known for having lived with the Shoshone Indian tribe as a boy in the 1850s. He later wrote a book[4] about his experiences, including his time as a rider for the Pony Express. The town was later named in his honor.[5] It sits at the base of Teton Pass, just northwest of Jackson, on State Highway 22.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.44 square miles (60.7 km2), of which, 22.96 square miles (59.5 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) of it (2.05%) is water.

Worland, Wyoming

Worland is a city in Washakie County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,487 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washakie County.[6] It is located within the Big Horn Basin and along the Big Horn River in northwestern Wyoming

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.64 square miles (12.02 km2), of which, 4.56 square miles (11.81 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[1]

Worland experiences an arid climate (Köppen BWk), but it is one that’s quite contrary to much of the state. Due to the location within the Big Horn Basin, it is protected from severe weather by the surrounding mountains from nearly every direction. This topography results in weather that is quite temperate with dry winters, little rainfall and few storms.[8]

Saratoga, Wyoming

Saratoga is the home of the Steinley Cup microbrew competition, usually held in August at Veterans Island Park, a playground and picnic facility located on a small island in the North Platte River. There is also a public pool heated by a hot spring located in Saratoga. Saratoga is one of many western communities economically devastated by consolidation, automation and the changing business practices of multinational timber companies.[citation needed] The town's two largest employers now are the United States Forest Service and Carbon County School District No. 2, both public sector employers. The town's motto is, "Where The Trout Leap In Main Street." The local newspaper is the Saratoga Sun.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.59 square miles (9.30 km2), of which, 3.40 square miles (8.81 km2) of it is land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,690 people, 802 households, and 474 families residing in the town. The population density was 497.1 inhabitants per square mile (191.9/km2). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 287.9 per square mile (111.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.4% White, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 2.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.

Sheridan, Wyoming

The city was named after General Philip Sheridan, Union cavalry leader in the American Civil War.[7] Travel book information describe Sheridan at the scene of many fierce battles between US Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne and Crow Indian tribes.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.95 square miles (28.36 km2), of which, 10.93 square miles (28.31 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[1]

Like many towns in the western United States, Sheridan's early industries included cattle ranching, logging, coal mining, railroading, agriculture, and small factories including a flour mill, brewery, and sugarbeet refinery. Residents today find employment in many fields including nearby coal mines; education; coal bed methane extraction; health care; retailing; banking; law firms; city, county, and state government; National Forest; home construction; and a large number of small businesses; farming; and ranching.

Shoshoni, Wyoming

Shoshoni is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 649 at the 2010 census. The town is named for the Shoshone tribe of Native Americans, most of whom live on the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation.

Shoshoni's closest body of water is Boysen Reservoir which is also the confluence of the Wind River, Badwater Creek and Poison Creek. As the water exits the dam it flows into the Wind River Canyon and joins the Big Horn River at the Wedding of the Water at the canyon egress.

Established as a railroad and mining town, Shoshoni lies at the intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 26, which together were formerly known as the "Yellowstone Highway." Shoshoni has a dramatic increase in visitors in the summer, when roads to Yellowstone National Park are open. Visitors also stop to camp and fish at nearby Boysen Reservoir and the surrounding Boysen State Park. Anglers participate in fishing derbies at the reservoir, including an ice fishing derby in the winter.

Smoot, Wyoming

Smoot is located at 42°37′15″N 110°54′45″W / 42.62083°N 110.91250°W / 42.62083; -110.91250 (42.620784, -110.912454).[4] It located in Star Valley, a grassland valley surrounded by forested mountains.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 182 people, 55 households, and 44 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 106.4 people per square mile (41.1/km²). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 36.8/sq mi (14.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.60% White, 0.55% Native American, 1.10% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.95% of the population.

There were 55 households out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% were married couples living together, 1.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.84.

Mountain View, Wyoming

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,286 people, 468 households, and 363 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,512.9 inhabitants per square mile (584.1/km2). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 595.3 per square mile (229.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 468 households of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the town was 31.9 years. 32.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

Story, Wyoming

The region around Story was part of the history of the American Frontier and the Old West, and of the conflicts between early settlers and the Plains Indians. The historic Bozeman Trail passed nearby in the mid-1860s, and Fort Phil Kearny, now a State Historic Site, lies just 5 miles south of town. Fort Sheridan was just to the north, near what is now the city of Sheridan.

Fort Phil Kearny, known to the Plains Indians as the "hated post on the Little Piney", played an important role in Red Cloud's War (1866-1868), and the area around the fort was the site of the Fetterman massacre and the Wagon Box Fight.[4] The Fetterman Fight (with 81 men killed on the U.S. side) was the worst military defeat suffered by the U.S. Army on the Great Plains, until the Battle of the Little Bighorn ten years later.[5]

The 1866 Fetterman Fight marked a key victory of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians over soldiers of the United States Army, and the 1867 Wagon Box Fight involved Lakota Sioux and soldiers from nearby Fort Phil Kearny.[6] Fort Phil Kearny, including the nearby sites of the Fetterman engagement and the Wagon Box Fight, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.[7]