Kemmerer, Wyoming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kemmerer is a city in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 2,651 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln CountyGR6. It dubs itself the "The Fossil Fish Capital of the World" and the "Gateway to the West."
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[edit] Geography
Kemmerer is located at (41.789391, -110.546299)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²). 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.14% is water.
Kemmerer is surrounded by high desert and the Rocky Mountains.
[edit] History
Patrick J. Quealy (1857-1930) founded Kemmerer as an "independent town" in 1897 with the formation six miles south of town of the Kemmerer Coal Company, of which he was Vice-President. He named the company and town after his financial backer, Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer (1843-1925). In 1950, the operation converted to strip mining and became the world'd largest open pit coal mine. In 1980 the Kemmerer Coal Co. was sold to the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, now a subsidiary of the Chevron Corporation. Quealy sold lots, rather than lease them, which permitted the establishment of independent businesses. The company's subsidiary, Frontier Supply Company provided electricity, utililizing a used $1,150.00 generator acquired in Utah.
Quealy was originally from Ireland. In Wyoming, he and his wife became active in Democratic Party politics and in St. Patrick's Church, for which the company donated land.
Quealy was the founding president of the First National Bank, established in 1900. Kemmerer Savings Bank, founded in 1909, had as its president, manager of the Blyth-Fargo-Hoskins Company, Asbury D. Hoskins, who was elected state treasurer in 1919.
Explorer John C. Freemont had discovered coal in the area during his second expedition in 1843. The Union Pacific Coal Co. had opened the first underground mine in 1881 after construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad from Granger to Oregon. [1]
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,651 people, 1,034 households, and 695 families residing in the city. The population density was 138.9/km² (359.7/mi²). There were 1,208 housing units at an average density of 63.3/km² (163.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.11% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.36% of the population.
There were 1,034 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,353, and the median income for a family was $55,529. Males had a median income of $45,921 versus $23,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,478. 6.6% of the population and 5.1% of families were below the poverty line. 7.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
[edit] Attractions
Kemmerer is the location of the JC Penney mother store. The Fossil Butte National Monument is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 30.
[edit] Notable people born or raised in Kemmerer
- John Buck, member of the Kansas City Royals Major League Baseball team.
- Jerry Buss, Owner- Los Angeles Lakers raised near here.
[edit] References
- ^ Historic Kemmerer. Wyoming Tales and Trails. Retrieved on 2006-03-07.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Kemmerer website
- Kemmerer Chamber of Commerce website
[edit] See also
Fossil Butte National Monument
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