The city was established east of the former site ofFort Caspar, in an area that grew for European settlers during the mid-19th century mass migration of land seekers along theOregon,California, andMormon trails,[8] where several nearby ferries offered passage across the North Platte River in the early 1840s. In 1859, Louis Guinard built a bridge and trading post near the original ferry locations, allowing overland travel to continue through the area.[9]
The government also posted the military garrison to protecttelegraph and mail service. It was under the command of Lieutenant ColonelWilliam O. Collins.[8]Native American attacks increased after theSand Creek Massacre in Colorado in 1864, bringing more troops to the post, which was by now called Platte Bridge Station. In July 1865, Lt. Colonel William Collins' beloved son Lieutenant Caspar Collins was killed near the post by a group of Indian warriors, and three months later the garrison was renamed Fort Caspar in his son's honor.[8]
In 1867, the troops were ordered to abandon Fort Caspar in favor ofFort Fetterman, downstream on the North Platte along theBozeman Trail. However, the town itself was settled twenty years later in 1887, and incorporated a year later by developers as an anticipated stopping point during the expansion of theWyoming Central Railway.
A site a few miles east was planned as the original site,[10] where homesteader Joshua Stroud lived prior to the actual construction of the train station for theChicago and North Western Railway.[11][12][13] The site was laid out by the Pioneer Town Site Company in 1888 and was known as Strouds, but the name Casper soon prevailed. While the name is derived from Fort Caspar and Lt. Caspar Collins, it is officially named "Casper" due to atypo occurring during the official registration.
Casper was an early commercial rival to both Bessemer andDouglas, Wyoming. The absence of a railhead doomed Bessemer in favor of Casper, while Douglas, also a railhead, survives to the present day. This rail presence also made Casper the starting off point for the "invaders" in theJohnson County War, since the chartered train carrying the men from Texas stopped at Casper.
In more recent history, the city received a significant influx of visitors during thesolar eclipse of August 21, 2017, due to its position along the path of totality.[14]
The waterfall at Casper's Rotary Park, at the base ofCasper Mountain
Interstate 25, which approaches Casper from the north and east, is the main avenue of transportation to and from the city. The towns immediately adjacent to Casper areMills,Evansville, andBar Nunn. Unincorporated areas include Allendale, Dempsey Acres, Red Buttes, Indian Springs, and several others.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.24 square miles (70.55 km2), of which 26.90 square miles (69.67 km2) is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2) is water.[15]
Casper, as with most of the rest of Wyoming, has a continentalsemi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification:BSk), with long, cold, but dry winters, hot but generally dry summers, mild springs, and short and crisp autumns. Normal daily maxima range from 35.2 °F (1.8 °C) in January to 89.0 °F (31.7 °C) in July. Snow can fall heavily during the winter and early to mid-spring months, and usually falls in May and October. Precipitation is greatest in spring and early summer, but even then it is not high. Highs reach 90 °F (32.2 °C) on 37.8 days per year and fail to surpass freezing on 41.3. Lows drop to 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on an average of 14.6 nights annually. The highest temperature recorded in Casper was 104 °F (40.0 °C) on July 12, 1954, July 16, 2005, and July 29, 2006, while the lowest temperature recorded was −42 °F (−41.1 °C) onDecember 22, 2022.[16]
As of thecensus[21] of 2010, there were 55,316 people, 22,794 households, and 14,237 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,056.4 inhabitants per square mile (794.0/km2). There were 24,536 housing units at an average density of 912.1 per square mile (352.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.3%White, 1.0%African American, 0.9%Native American, 0.8%Asian, 2.3% fromother races, and 2.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 7.4% of the population.
There were 22,794 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% weremarried couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. Of all households 30.3% were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 36 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 20,343 households, and 13,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,073.2 people per square mile (800.5 people/km2). There were 21,872 housing units at an average density of 913.4 per square mile (352.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.03% White, 0.86% Black, 1.00% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 2.04% fromother races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 5.35% of the population wereHispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,343 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households 29.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,567, and the median income for a family was $46,267. Males had a median income of $34,905 versus $21,810 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,409. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
After the discovery ofcrude oil in the region during the 1890s, Casper became the regional petroleum industry center. Oil has figured prominently in its history from nearly the outset. Oil was first discovered in the famousSalt Creek Oil Field in 1889, approximately 40 miles (64 km) north of Casper; the first refinery in Casper was built in 1895. The city has featured a refinery ever since, although various refineries have been built and closed over the years. As recently as the early 1980s, the city was near or home to three refineries. The surviving one, operated bySinclair Oil Corporation, is located nearby in Evansville. Development of Wyomingcoal anduranium fields in recent decades has helped Casper continue its role as a center in the energy industry.
Casper Wind Farm began operations near Casper in Natrona County and has 11 turbines with a generating capacity of 16.5 MW.[22] Energy Transportation Inc. is headquartered in Casper. This logistics firm transports overweight and outsized components used in the wind power industry.[23] The Casper landfill is also a disposal site for windmill blades.[24]
Public education in the city of Casper is provided byNatrona County School District #1. The district operates sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in Casper. The high schools areKelly Walsh,Natrona County, andRoosevelt High Schools. A program called CAPS is being added to Natrona County School District, which will provide more space and classrooms for juniors and seniors at the three high schools.
Casper has apublic library, a branch of the Natrona County Public Library System.[26]
Casper is served by one print newspaper, theCasper Star-Tribune, a daily, and until recently theCasper Journal, published weekly. Casper is also home to WyoFile, an online publication focusing on state issues[27] andOil City News, an online news and media site.[28]
Casper Cannibal RFC, an amateur rugby football team in the Eastern Rockies Rugby Football Union
Casper Coyotes were a Junior A hockey team in theWestern States Hockey League (WSHL) that played out of the Casper Ice Arena. They renamed to Casper Bobcats for the 2018–2019 season and folded before the 2019–2020 season.[34][35][36]
Casper has three locations offeringtheater: the Gertrude Krampert Theatre at Casper College, Stage III Community Theatre, and the Casper Events Center[45] where an annual series of touring Broadway shows,Broadway in Casper, can be seen.
US 20 – East–west route through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper. At exit 189 the highway continues west out of Casper, and no longer runs concurrent with the interstate. Thebusiness route of US 20 follows N. Beverly St. and Yellowstone Hwy. going east–west from I-25/US 87 (Exit 186) to U.S. 20–26 west of Casper inMills.
US 26 – East–west route through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper. At exit 189 the highway continues west out of Casper, and no longer runs concurrent with the interstate. Thebusiness route of US 26 follows N. McKinley St. and Yellowstone Hwy. going east–west from I-25/US 87 (Exit 187) to U.S. 20–26 west of Casper inMills.
US 87 – North-South through Casper that runs concurrent with I-25 through Casper.
WYO 220 (N. Poplar St., CY Avenue) – East–west route from I-25/US 87 (Exit 188B) west out of Casper towardsAlcova.
WYO 251 (Wolcott St., Casper Mountain Rd.) – North–south route that continues south out of Casper and up Casper Mountain, eventually ending atWYO 487.
WYO 252 (S. Poplar St.) – North–south route from the intersection of Poplar Street and CY avenue to Casper Mountain Road.
WYO 254 (Salt Creek Hwy.) – North–south route from I-25/US 87 south to US 20-26 (Yellowstone Hwy.) in Mills.
WYO 255 (Center St., 9th St., CY Avenue) – North–south route from I-25 exit 188A to the intersection of S. Poplar and CY Avenue, where CY Avenue continues as WY 220.
WYO 258 (Wyoming Blvd.) – East-West loop route from I-25/US 87 to US 20-26 west of Casper in Mills; the majority of the highway runs along the southern borders of Casper.
The city has scheduled air service atCasper–Natrona County International Airport, a former army air base built during World War II. The runways are large, having been built for bombers. It replaced a regional airport north of Casper which later became the town ofBar Nunn, Wyoming. The airport is located west of the city just off of US Highway 20/26. In July 2004, the airport facilities were renovated.[49] Passenger service at the airport is offered byUnited Express (SkyWest Airlines andGoJet Airlines), andDelta Connection (SkyWest Airlines).FedEx Express andFedEx Feeder provide cargo airline service to the airport.
Public transit in the Casper area had been provided by the Casper Area Transportation Coalition but is now offered by the city of Casper asCasper Area Transit.[50] They offer fixed route service called Casper Area LINK and an on-request service called ASSIST from Monday to Saturday.
Liz Cheney (born 1966), lawyer; member of U.S. State Department; daughter of Dick Cheney; attended elementary school in Casper; elected to theU.S. House of Representatives[58]
Lynne Cheney (born 1941), wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney[59]
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