- Chugwater, Wyoming
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Chugwater, Wyoming — Town — Location of Chugwater, Wyoming
Coordinates: 41°45′21″N 104°49′32″W / 41.75583°N 104.82556°WCoordinates: 41°45′21″N 104°49′32″W / 41.75583°N 104.82556°W Country United States State Wyoming County Platte Area – Total 3.0 sq mi (7.9 km2) – Land 3.0 sq mi (7.9 km2) – Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) Elevation 5,295 ft (1,614 m) Population (2000) – Total 244 – Density 80.0/sq mi (30.9/km2) Time zone Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) – Summer (DST) MDT (UTC-6) ZIP code 82210 Area code(s) 307 FIPS code 56-14165[1] GNIS feature ID 1609180[2] Chugwater is a town in Platte County, Wyoming, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 244.
Contents
History
In a 2005 promotion to attract new people to the town, building lots were offered for $100 provided the new owner built a house within a year and lived in it for at least 2 years.[3]
The former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives, Harold Hellbaum (1926–2007) farmed and ranched in Chugwater. He served in the state legislature from 1963–1977, his last term as Speaker.
Etymology
Some historians hold that the name "Chugwater" is derived from a Mandan account of a bison hunt. According to this narrative, a chief was disabled during the hunt and his son took charge of the hunt or "buffalo jump". Under his direction, hunters drove the bison over nearby cliffs; when the animals reached the ground below, a sound of "chugging" was heard by the hunters. The story concludes with an etymology: since a stream was near the base of the cliffs, the site of the stampede has been called "the place" or "water at the place where the buffalo chug.".[4]
Geography
Chugwater is located at 41°45′21″N 104°49′32″W / 41.75583°N 104.82556°W (41.755797, -104.825482)[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²), all of it land.
Chugwater is located in a valley with steep claystone bluffs to the north and west. Chugwater Creek runs through the middle of the valley and is the town's namesake.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 244 people, 94 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density was 80.0 people per square mile (30.9/km²). There were 120 housing units at an average density of 39.3 per square mile (15.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90% White, 0.41% Native American, 0.82% from other races, and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.92% of the population and not a single African American in the town.
There were 94 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $24,688 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,609. About 27.9% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 28.6% of those sixty five or over.
Education
Public education in the town of Chugwater is provided by Platte County School District #1. Chugwater School, a K-12 campus, serves the town.
See also
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Wyoming Town Offers Cheap Land for New Blood NPR, 2005-02-14
- ^ The history of Chugwater - How the town got its name wheatlandwy.com. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
Municipalities and communities of Platte County, Wyoming Towns 
CDPs Categories:- Populated places in Platte County, Wyoming
- Towns in Wyoming
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