Thermopolis is the largest town in and the county seat of Hot Springs County, Wyoming, United States.[3] As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,172. As might be expected from its name and the name of its county, Thermopolis is home to numerous natural hot springs, in which mineral-laden waters are heated by geothermal processes. It claims the world's largest mineral hot spring as part of Hot Springs State Park. The springs are open to the public for free as part of an 1896 treaty signed with the Shoshone and Arapaho Indian tribes.
Geography
Thermopolis is located at 43°38′44″N 108°12′53″W / 43.64556°N 108.21472°W / 43.64556; -108.21472 (43.645667, -108.214641).[4] Thermopolis is located near the northern end of the Wind River Canyon and Wedding of the Waters, where the north-flowing Wind River becomes the Bighorn. Thermopolis is ringed by mountains, with the Bridger Mountains are to the southeast, the Owl Creek Mountains are to the southwest, the Big Horn Mountains to the east and the southern Absaroka Range to the west. Thermopolis is the southern-most municipality in the Big Horn Basin.[citation needed]
Roundtop Mountain, on the northwest edge of town, is a unique geological formation and highest area in the immediate vicinity of Thermopolis.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km2), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (3.64%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,172 people, 1,342 households, and 849 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,331.0 people per square mile (514.6/km2). There were 1,568 housing units at an average density of 657.9/sq mi (254.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.90% White, 0.47% African American, 1.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 1,342 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,205, and the median income for a family was $38,448. Males had a median income of $26,824 versus $18,438 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,648. About 8.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Hot Springs County School District #1 [1] is the only school district in the county. HSCSD1 includes Ralph Witters Elementary School, Thermopolis Middle School, Thermopolis High School and a building for the system auditorium and administrative offices, all in Thermopolis. A facility for fourth and fifth graders, located in Lucerne, recently closed.[6]
Tourism
Because of Hot Springs State Park, tourism is of considerable economic import to Thermopolis.[5] A state maintained herd of buffalo reside in Hot Springs State Park, which extends into the northwest of town. Two hot mineral water concessions, the Teepee Pools and Star Plunge, and two hotels are located within the park. Other tourism-related businesses in and near the town include the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Old West Wax Museum and Wind River Canyon Whitewater. Thermopolis (indeed, all of Hot Springs County) levies a 4% lodging tax for borders in county hotels and motels.[7]
The Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center has an eclectic collection of memorabilia from local pioneers circa 1890 through 1910, with plans to focus on Tim McCoy, who lived in Hot Springs County from 1912 to 1942, during which he built the High Eagle Ranch about 45 miles west of town. He worked for many years as an actor in what are now called B westerns, or lower-budget cowboy movies in Hollywood.[8]
Nearby East Thermopolis is home to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, a private organization that conducts paleontology digs in the area and maintains a visitor center.[9]
Notable natives
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.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b About Thermopolis, Accessed 090728.
- ^ Hot Springs County School District #1, Accessed 090728.
- ^ Wyoming tax rate chart, Accessed 090728.
- ^ Wyoming Tourism entry on Thermopolis, Accessed 090728.
- ^ Wyoming Dinosaur Center website, Accessed 090728.
External links
