Rock Springs, Wyoming

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rock Springs, Wyoming
settlement_type = City
nickname = Home of 56 Nationalities
motto = A Great Place to Work and Play!

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imagesize =
image_caption = Historic downtown Rock Springs.


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Rock Springs, Wyoming


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wyoming
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sweetwater

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Tim Kaumo
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Rock Springs
established_date = 1888

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 47.8
area_land_km2 = 47.8
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 18.4
area_land_sq_mi = 18.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 18708
population_density_km2 = 391.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1014.4

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1947
elevation_ft = 6388
latd = 41 |latm = 35 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 109 |longm = 13 |longs = 21 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 82901, 82902, 82942
area_code = 307
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 56-67235GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1593588GR|3
website = http://www.rswy.net/Welcome/~Welcome.htm
footnotes =

Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area with a population of 37,975.

On September 2, 1885, 150 white miners attacked their Chinese coworkers, killing 28, wounding 15, and forcing several hundred more out of town. The event is known as the Rock Springs Massacre and is one of the worst race riots in American history.

As of 2006, there are still remains of the old coal mining towns outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming. The site has great historical significance and contains artifacts relating to the Rock Springs Massacre.Fact|date=May 2007

Rock Springs is also home to Western Wyoming Community College, and Wyoming's Big Show a yearly event featuring a carnival and concerts, held at the Sweetwater County Events Complex. [ [http://www.sweetwaterevents.com/ Sweetwater Events Complex Website] ]

Rock Springs is currently in the midst of an energy boom due to the large number of oil and natural gas wells in the region. The local economy is short mainly on service industry employees but due to the low number of viable employees, the jobs are well paying by national standards.

Richard Honaker, a Rock Springs attorney and former Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, was nominated in 2007 by U.S. President George W. Bush as U.S. District Judge. The appointment, however, has been blocked by secularists and abortion advocates who object to Honaker's view of the United States being a "Christian nation" and his opposition to abortion. A inconclusive hearing on the Honaker nomination was held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 12, 2008.Fact|date=April 2008

Geography

Rock Springs is located at coor dms|41|35|6.38|N|109|13|17.01|W|city (41.585106, -109.221392)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.45 square miles (47.87 km²), all of it land.

The city is approximately 6759 feet (2060 m) above sea level.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1870 = 40
1880 = 763
1890 = 3406
1900 = 4363
1910 = 5778
1920 = 6456
1930 = 8440
1940 = 9827
1950 = 10857
1960 = 10371
1970 = 11657
1980 = 19458
1990 = 19050
2000 = 18708
footnote= [cite web | title = Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns | publisher = Wyoming Department of State / U.S. Census Bureau | url = http://eadiv.state.wy.us/demog_data/cntycity_hist.htm | accessdate = 2008-06-30 ] |As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,708 people, 7,348 households, and 4,930 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.4 people per square mile (391.7/km²). There were 8,359 housing units at an average density of 453.3/sq mi (175.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.75% White, 1.07% African American, 0.86% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.05% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.

There were 7,348 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,584, and the median income for a family was $51,539. Males had a median income of $44,809 versus $22,609 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,396. About 6.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

* Adam Archuleta, safety for the Chicago Bears
* Butch Cassidy, western outlaw, earned his nickname of Butch while working as a butcher in Rock Springs

Media

The Rock Springs areas is served by four newspapers: "The Daily Rocket-Miner", "The Mustang Express", formerly "The Oracle" (Western Wyoming Community College newspaper), "The Marquee" (a media and entertainment supplement published in the Rocket-Miner), "The Green River Star" (a weekly newspaper published in Green River), and "The Sweetwater County Guide" (a weekly shopper's guide published by "The Green River Star".)

Entertainment

Every year during July and August, the city holds a county fair called Wyoming's Big Show. The event includes theme park rides, booths, restaurants, and live entertainment. Rodeos have been a staple of the fair, and famous performers are sometimes a part of the entertainment.

References

External links

* [http://www.rswy.net/ City of Rock Springs]
* [http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/rocksprings2.html Rock Springs Photos (from Wyoming Tales and Trails)]
* [http://www.rocketminer.com/ Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner]
* [http://www.rockspringswyoming.net/ Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.cfac4art.com/ Community Fine Arts Center]