Johnson County, Wyoming

Johnson County
Johnson County Courthouse
Flag of Johnson County
Map of Wyoming highlighting Johnson County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°02′N 106°35′W / 44.04°N 106.59°W / 44.04; -106.59
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedDecember 8, 1875 (authorized)
1881 (organized)
SeatBuffalo
Largest cityBuffalo
Area
 • Total
4,175 sq mi (10,810 km2)
 • Land4,154 sq mi (10,760 km2)
 • Water20 sq mi (50 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,447
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,759 Increase
 • Density2.0/sq mi (0.78/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitejohnsoncountywyoming.org

Johnson County is a county in the north central part of the U.S. state of Wyoming. At the 2020 United States Census, the population was 8,447.[1] The county seat is Buffalo.[2] Kaycee is the only other incorporated town in the county. Johnson County lies to the southeast of the Bighorn Mountains along Interstate 25 and Interstate 90. The Powder River flows northward through eastern Johnson County.

History

Johnson County was created on December 8, 1875, as Pease County from parts of Albany, Carbon and Sweetwater Counties. It was organized in 1881.[3] The county was initially named for Dr. E. L. Pease of Uinta County. But, in 1879, the county was renamed Johnson, for E. P. Johnson, a Cheyenne attorney.[4]

In 1888, Sheridan County was created from a portion of Johnson County. In 1890, Big Horn County was created from Johnson County along with land from Fremont County and Sheridan County.

Froom 1889 to 1893, Johnson County was the scene of the Johnson County War, where wealthy cattle ranchers seeking to control limited resources enlisted hired guns to fight smaller settlers and homesteaders.

In 1911, the boundaries of Johnson County and adjacent Crook, Natrona and Weston Counties were adjusted to run along federal land survey lines.

Flag

Johnson County flag is based on the ikurriña; since the birth of Jean Esponda from Baigorri, there has been a large Basque population in the county.[5]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 4,175 square miles (10,810 km2), of which 4,154 square miles (10,760 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Transit

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880637
18902,357270.0%
19002,3610.2%
19103,45346.3%
19204,61733.7%
19304,8164.3%
19404,9803.4%
19504,707−5.5%
19605,47516.3%
19705,5872.0%
19806,70019.9%
19906,145−8.3%
20007,07515.1%
20108,56921.1%
20208,447−1.4%
2023 (est.)8,759[7]3.7%
US Decennial Census[8]
1870–2000[9] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census

At the 2000 United States Census,[10] there were 7,075 people, 2,959 households and 2,006 families in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 3,503 housing units at an average density of 0.8 units per square mile (0.31 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.03% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.0% were of German, 15.2% English, 10.8% Irish and 7.9% American ancestry.

There were 2,959 households, of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 28.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median household income was $34,012 and the median family income was $42,299. Males had a median income of $29,271 and females $20,469. The per capita income was $19,030. About 7.20% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,569 people, 3,782 households, and 2,410 families in the county.[11] The population density was 2.1 people per square mile (0.81 people/km2). There were 4,553 housing units at an average density of 1.1 units per square mile (0.42 units/km2).[12] The racial makeup was 96.5% white, 1.1% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 31.6% were German, 22.4% were Irish, 18.3% were English, and 6.1% were American.[13]

Of the 3,782 households, 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.3% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 44.8 years.[11]

The median household income was $45,638 and the median family income was $58,983. Males had a median income of $40,572 and females $30,352. The per capita income was $26,753. About 5.9% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

Government and infrastructure

Johnson County voters are reliably Republican. Since Wyoming statehood, the voters of this county have selected the Democratic Party candidate in only three national elections: William Jennings Bryan in 1896; Woodrow Wilson in 1912 by two votes and with only 37.5 percent of the total vote (due to Roosevelt's independent run that year); and Franklin D. Roosevelt by seventy votes in his 1932 landslide. FDR did not carry the county in his re-election campaigns; in 1936 Johnson was Alf Landon’s second-best county in the Western United States behind Rio Blanco County, Colorado. In the 1964 Democratic landslide it was Barry Goldwater's best county in Wyoming, and second-best in the West behind Utah's traditional banner Republican county of Kane.

United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Wyoming[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,936 80.36% 847 17.29% 115 2.35%
2020 3,881 78.98% 897 18.25% 136 2.77%
2016 3,477 78.72% 638 14.44% 302 6.84%
2012 3,363 78.96% 749 17.59% 147 3.45%
2008 3,334 76.57% 908 20.85% 112 2.57%
2004 3,231 80.96% 676 16.94% 84 2.10%
2000 2,886 81.30% 555 15.63% 109 3.07%
1996 2,071 62.59% 815 24.63% 423 12.78%
1992 1,614 51.30% 656 20.85% 876 27.84%
1988 2,081 72.81% 707 24.74% 70 2.45%
1984 2,634 81.27% 558 17.22% 49 1.51%
1980 2,291 72.78% 635 20.17% 222 7.05%
1976 2,042 71.25% 797 27.81% 27 0.94%
1972 2,203 83.13% 436 16.45% 11 0.42%
1968 1,737 73.85% 398 16.92% 217 9.23%
1964 1,640 65.81% 852 34.19% 0 0.00%
1960 1,806 69.35% 798 30.65% 0 0.00%
1956 1,842 76.12% 578 23.88% 0 0.00%
1952 1,980 78.45% 543 21.51% 1 0.04%
1948 1,351 66.06% 682 33.35% 12 0.59%
1944 1,384 64.67% 756 35.33% 0 0.00%
1940 1,460 64.98% 781 34.76% 6 0.27%
1936 1,266 54.26% 949 40.68% 118 5.06%
1932 1,101 47.05% 1,171 50.04% 68 2.91%
1928 1,369 69.25% 590 29.84% 18 0.91%
1924 1,097 58.01% 501 26.49% 293 15.49%
1920 1,202 69.36% 525 30.29% 6 0.35%
1916 814 49.15% 812 49.03% 30 1.81%
1912 522 37.39% 524 37.54% 350 25.07%
1908 781 55.39% 614 43.55% 15 1.06%
1904 725 60.82% 459 38.51% 8 0.67%
1900 466 51.43% 440 48.57% 0 0.00%
1896 284 37.72% 467 62.02% 2 0.27%
1892 309 34.30% 0 0.00% 592 65.70%

The Wyoming Department of Health Veteran's Home of Wyoming, an assisted living facility for veterans and their dependents, is in Buffalo.[18][19] The Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform operated the facility until the agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Long, John H., ed. (2004). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  4. ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
    - Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 169.
  5. ^ "The Flag | Basque Identity 2.0". August 4, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Hazelton WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  16. ^ Sussex WY Google Maps (accessed January 10, 2019)
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  18. ^ Veterans' Home of Wyoming Archived May 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Wyoming Department of Health. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  19. ^ Buffalo city, Wyoming[permanent dead link]. US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  20. ^ "About the Department of Corrections", Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.

44°02′N 106°35′W / 44.04°N 106.59°W / 44.04; -106.59