Rock Springs derives its name from a rock spring which flowed in the Number 6 district in the northern part of town. An account said that the spring was found by a lostPony Express rider, but the spring station was known toJim Bridger before 1860; theOverland Stage station was located nearby. The spring disappeared when the coal mine operations interrupted the underground flow.
In the early days, Ed Cleg hauled domestic water from the sulfur spring north of Rock Springs and charged $.25 a barrel. With the mining operations, the water flow was interrupted and water was hauled from Green River and Point of Rocks. Beginning in 1887, a water main was started from the Green River and completed in 1888 to bring a continuous supply of water to Rock Springs.
Rock Springs has a multi-ethnic heritage; locals called it the 57 Variety Town.[7] The first immigrants were brought in by the railroad and coal mining companies. The Welsh and British people were initially most populous. Later, Irish, Black people, and refugees from the Southern part of the United States also came. The Scandinavian people were represented with a heavy Mormon recruitment.
One of the worst incidents of anti-immigrant violence in American history, known as theRock Springs massacre, occurred on September 2, 1885, when White miners slaughtered their Chinese counterparts due to anti-Chinese sentiment.[8] There are still remains of the old coal mining towns outside of Rock Springs.[9]
On June 10, 1892, Rock Springs National Bank opened on 515 S Main St, across from theUnion Pacific depot. The original sandstone building was designed by Mayor H.H. Edgar who chose an Italianate style. In 1907, when John Hay Sr. assumed control of the business, the location moved to C Street. RSNB owned the original building until 1921 when it was sold to Anton Mengoni. Hay Sr. navigated the bank through the Great Depression and World War II, before retiring in 1947. John Hay Jr., his son, then took control of the bank, having to control wild growth during Wyoming's massive energy boom in the 1970s. Another of Hay Sr.'s sons was Archibald (Archie) Hay. Archibald was killed in France by a German plane in 1918. In his memory, Post 24 of the American Legion, chartered in 1919, was named Archie Hay Post.
Rock Springs was featured on60 Minutes in 1977 due to corruption within the Police Department and City Government.[10] A grand jury was called into session. The Sheriff of Sweetwater County, James Stark, testified and no wrongdoing was ever found. A follow-up was filmed 20 years later for the showCity Confidential. The episode was named "Rock Springs: Deadly Draw in the Wild West".[11]
Rock Springs has asemi-arid climate (KöppenBSk) with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Precipitation is usually light but has two peaks in mid spring and in early fall. Summer and winter are both drier.
The average December temperatures are a maximum of 33.2 °F (0.7 °C) and a minimum of 12.4 °F (−10.9 °C). The average July temperatures are a maximum of 86.3 °F (30.2 °C) and a minimum of 52.5 °F (11.4 °C). There an average of 14.7 days annually with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher. There are an average of 183.6 nights with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower and 11.5 nights with lows of 0 °F (−17.8 °C) or lower. The record high temperature was 98 °F (36.7 °C) on July 13, 2002, and the record low temperature was −37 °F (−38.3 °C) on January 12, 1963.[13]
The average annual precipitation is 10.45 inches (265.4 mm). There is an average of 61.7 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest calendar year was 1965 with 14.54 in (369.3 mm) and the driest 2012 with 3.14 in (79.8 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 3.67 in (93.2 mm) in September 1965, July 1973, and May 1995. The most snowfall in one year was 79.7 in (2.02 m) in 1995. The most snowfall in one month was 23.7 in (0.60 m) in February 2001.[13]
Climate data for Rock Springs, Wyoming (Rock Springs Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
At the 2010census,[3] there were 23,036 people, 8,762 households and 5,849 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,191.1 inhabitants per square mile (459.9/km2). There were 10,070 housing units at an average density of 520.7 per square mile (201.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.4%White, 1.4%African American, 0.8%Native American, 1.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 7.5% fromother races, and 2.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 16.4% of the population.
There were 8,762 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% weremarried couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.2% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.
The median age in the city was 31.5 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.
At the 2000 census,[4] there were 18,708 people, 7,348 households and 4,930 families living in the city. The population density was 1,014.4 per square mile (391.7/km2). There were 8,359 housing units at an average density of 453.3 per square mile (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% fromother 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, 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.
27.1% of the population were 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.
Themedian household income was $42,584 and the median family income was $51,541. Males had a median income of $44,809 compared with $22,609 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,396. About 6.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Rock Springs hosts the International Festival, the Blues and Brews Festival, the Wyoming Chocolate Festival and the Rod and Rails Festival.[16] In July, August, and September, the city holds a county fair called Wyoming's Big Show.[citation needed]
Rock Springs has two public libraries, Rock Springs Library and White Mountain Library, both of which are branches of the Sweetwater County Library System.[17] The Rock Springs Library is also an originalCarnegie Library, and has since been expanded to include an art gallery that is home to an originalNorman Rockwell painting.
Public education in the city of Rock Springs is provided bySweetwater County School District #1.[18] Schools serving the city include: Desert View Elementary, Northpark Elementary, Overland Elementary, Pilot Butte Elementary, Sage Elementary, Stagecoach Elementary, Walnut Elementary, Westridge Elementary, Eastside Elementary, Rock Springs Junior High School, andRock Springs High School. There are also two alternative campuses – Black Butte High School, and Roosevelt Learning Center.
