Casper: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents (CMSA)

1980: 71,856

1990: 61,226

2000: 66,533

Percent change, 1990–2000: 8.6%

U.S. rank in 2000: 275th

City Residents

1980: 51,016

1990: 46,742

2000: 49,644

2003 estimate: 50,632

Percent change, 1990–2000: 6.2%

U.S. rank in 1990: 559th (2nd in state)

U.S. rank in 2000: Not reported (2nd in state)

Density: 2,073.2 people per square mile

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 46,680

Black or African American: 428

American Indian and Alaskan Native: 495

Asian: 425

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 10

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 2,656

Other: 1,011

Percent of residents born in state: 46.4% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 3,264

Population 5 to 9 years old: 3,458

Population 10 to 14 years old: 3,758

Population 15 to 19 years old: 4,122

Population 20 to 24 years old: 3,455

Population 25 to 34 years old: 6,125

Population 35 to 44 years old: 7,649

Population 45 to 54 years old: 7,016

Population 55 to 59 years old: 2,211

Population 60 to 64 years old: 1,852

Population 65 to 74 years old: 3,606

Population 75 to 84 years old: 2,402

Population 85 years and over: 746

Median age: 36.1

Births

Total number: 897 (2002; Natrona County)

Deaths

Total number: 616 (2002; Natrona County)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $19,409

Median household income: $36,567

Total households: 20,343

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 1,761

$10,000 to $14,999: 1,689

$15,000 to $24,999: 3,101

$25,000 to $34,999: 3,185

$35,000 to $49,999: 3,680

$50,000 to $74,999: 3,948

$75,000 to $99,999: 1,772

$100,000 to $149,999: 866

$150,000 to $199,999: 196

$200,000 or more: 238

Percent of families below poverty level: 8.5% (53.5% of which were female householder families with children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 2,725

Casper: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

Casper's daily paper is the Casper Star Tribune, delivered mornings and providing comprehensive coverage of international, national, regional, and local news stories. A special insert on Saturdays conveys community events and special features. Billed as "Casper's community newspaper," the Casper Journal is focused on local news, sports, and community events. The Wyoming Business Report is an affiliate of two similar periodicals published along the Front Range in Colorado. The bi-monthly paper is circulated to 10,000 readers, providing coverage of banking, technology, energy, investing, and agribusiness issues.

Television and Radio

Two network television affiliates are located in Casper—CBS and ABC—but the community has relays for transmissions of public television and other network stations. Casper's FM radio selection runs the gamut from classic rock to country to top 40 formats. Talk radio, news, oldies and Christian music are available on AM radio.

Casper Online

Casper Area Chamber of Commerce. Available www.casperwyoming.org/index.html

Casper Star Tribune. Available www.casperstartribune.net

Casper Wyoming Convention & Visitors Bureau. Available www.casperwyoming.info

City of Casper. Available www.casperwy.gov

Natrona County Government. Available www.newedc.net/natrona/index.htm

Natrona County School District. Available www.ncsdweb.ncsd.k12.wy.us/index.html

Wyoming State Historical Society. Available wyshs.org

Selected Bibliography

Casper Chronicles Casper, WY: Casper Zonta Club (1964)

Casper city (1990 pop. 46,742), alt. 5,123 ft (1,561 m), seat of Natrona co., E central Wyo., on the North Platte River; inc. 1889. It is a rail, distribution, processing, and trade center in a farming, ranching, and mineral-rich area. An oil boomtown since the first well was tapped in 1890, it has many oil-affiliated industries. There is open-pit uranium mining nearby, and gas and coal production. The city has wool and livestock markets, meatpacking plants, varied manufacturing, and a growing tourist industry. At this fording place on the Oregon Trail the Mormons in 1847 established a ferry, which was in the 1850s superseded by Platte Bridge. The city was founded (1888) with the coming of the railroad and expanded with the discovery of oil at Salt Creek, followed by the Teapot Dome and Big Muddy finds. In 1948 wells in the Lost Soldier field of Sweetwater co. brought another boom. Nearby are the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds; the restored Old Fort Caspar Museum (a clerk's error accounts for the later spelling of the name); and Casper Mt. (c.8,000 ft/2,440 m high). Tourist attractions in the surrounding area include Hell's Half Acre, a spectacular eroded area; Independence Rock; and a petrified forest.

Casper: Convention Facilities

The Casper Events Center was constructed on a hill at the north end of the city and its massive maroon roof is visible from practically all points in Casper. The arena is shaped like a horseshoe, with a 28,200 square foot main floor that can hold up to 154 exhibition booths. Concourse exhibit space encompasses 7,900 square feet, while meeting rooms add another 6,204 square feet of usable space. Sound and lighting systems can be configured for sporting events, concerts, trade shows and banquets.

The Central Wyoming Fairgrounds can accommodate trade shows, conferences, receptions, rodeos, and RV parking. A multi-purpose sports facility opened in 2000 and covers 76,875 square feet, while the Grandstand and Arena have seating capacity for 5,200.

Several local hotels offer meeting, convention, and conference space, including the Holiday Inn on the River, the Parkway Plaza Hotel & Convention Centre, and the Ramkota Hotel Casper.

Convention Information: Casper Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 992 N. Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601; telephone (307)234-5362; toll-free (800)852-1889; fax (307)261-9928; email visitors@casperwyoming.info

Casper: Municipal Government

The City of Casper operates under a Council-Manager form of government; in staggered elections, the city's three wards each elect three representatives from the citizenry residing in that ward. All legislative authority resides within the nine-member council. The council in turn appoints a mayor and a vice president from among its own ranks; each of these officials serves for one year. A manager is hired by the city to coordinate municipal business and respond to citizen concerns.

Head Official: Guy V. Padgett, III (since 2005; current term expires December 2006)

Total Number of City Employees: 505 (2005)

City Information: City of Casper, 200 N. David, Casper, WY 82601; telephone (307)235-8400

Casper, Wyoming/USA Fort Caspar Founded as a tented town by a fort in 1888 and named after Lieutenant Caspar Collins who was killed by Native Americans while trying to bring help to a stranded wagon train. In writing his report, a clerk misspelt the name.