Riverton, Wyoming | |
|---|---|
| Motto: "The Rendezvous City" | |
 Location of Riverton in Fremont County, Wyoming. | |
  Riverton, Wyoming Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:43°1′30″N108°22′48″W / 43.02500°N 108.38000°W /43.02500; -108.38000[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Fremont |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tim Hancock |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.34 sq mi (26.78 km2) |
| • Land | 10.34 sq mi (26.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,951 ft (1,509 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 10,682 |
| • Density | 1,042.3/sq mi (402.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| ZIP Code | 82501 |
| Area code | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-66220[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1593489[1] |
| Website | www.rivertonwy.gov |
Riverton is a city inFremont County,Wyoming, United States. The city's population was 10,682 at the2020 census, making it the most populous city in the county.
The city, founded in 1906,[5] is an incorporated entity of the state of Wyoming. The community was named Riverton because of the four rivers that meet there.[6] The town was built on land ceded from theWind River Indian Reservation, a situation that often makes it subject to jurisdictional claims by the nearbyEastern Shoshone andNorthern Arapaho tribes.
A legal ruling on November 7, 2017, by the10th Circuit Court, ruled again in theEPA reservation boundary dispute. Though the decision was complex, the 10th Circuit Court answered plainly. Riverton is not on the reservation. The 10th Circuit's decision is now official and final after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 2017 ruling. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the EPA, and held that the land had been ceded in 1905 by an Act of Congress. This ruling ends the dispute, bringing the debate and controversy to an end.[7]
Riverton Regional Airport (now Central Wyoming Regional Airport) is home to aNational Weather Service Forecast Office andNEXRAD radar site which is responsible to cover all of western and central Wyoming.
TheChicago & Northwestern Railway completed an extension of the "Cowboy Line" through to Lander which is roughly 22 miles west of Riverton. Plans were to continue the line west from Lander. In 1972, the end of the line was moved from Lander and the new terminus of the line was in Riverton. Services were then discontinued in Riverton in the mid-1970's as the line was slowly dismantled west of Casper.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 483 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,023 | 318.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,608 | −20.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,540 | 58.0% | |
| 1950 | 4,142 | 63.1% | |
| 1960 | 6,845 | 65.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,995 | 16.8% | |
| 1980 | 9,562 | 19.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,202 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 9,310 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 10,615 | 14.0% | |
| 2020 | 10,682 | 0.6% | |
| Population 2020[3] and Historical[8] | |||
As of thecensus[9] of 2010, there were 10,615 people, 4,252 households, and 2,600 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,076.6 inhabitants per square mile (415.7/km2). There were 4,567 housing units at an average density of 463.2 per square mile (178.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.5%White, 0.5%African American, 10.4%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.8% fromother races, and 3.5% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 9.0% of the population.
There were 4,252 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% weremarried couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 9,311 people, 3,816 households, and 2,407 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 952.2 people per square mile (367.5/km2). There were 4,254 housing units at an average density of 435.1/sq mi (167.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.81%White, 0.17%African American, 8.08%Native American, 0.47%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 1.86% fromother races, and 2.58% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 7.09% of the population.
There were 3,816 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% weremarried couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $37,079. Males had a median income of $31,685 versus $19,157 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,720. About 11.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Riverton is located directly north of theWind River.U.S. Route 26 andWyoming Highway 789 pass through the city.[10]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.87 square miles (25.56 km2), of which 9.86 square miles (25.54 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[11]
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Riverton has acold semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Riverton was 104 °F (40 °C) on July 12, 1954, July 22, 1982, and July 14, 2005, while the coldest temperature recorded was −46 °F (−43 °C) on January 17, 1930, January 12, 1963, December 31, 1978, January 1, 1979, and December 23, 1983.[12]
| Climate data for Riverton, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) | 71 (22) | 78 (26) | 87 (31) | 96 (36) | 102 (39) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 98 (37) | 90 (32) | 73 (23) | 65 (18) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 49.9 (9.9) | 55.5 (13.1) | 68.7 (20.4) | 78.5 (25.8) | 86.0 (30.0) | 93.6 (34.2) | 98.8 (37.1) | 96.5 (35.8) | 91.2 (32.9) | 79.9 (26.6) | 64.5 (18.1) | 53.1 (11.7) | 99.1 (37.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.7 (−1.8) | 35.5 (1.9) | 49.2 (9.6) | 58.0 (14.4) | 67.4 (19.7) | 78.9 (26.1) | 87.9 (31.1) | 85.7 (29.8) | 74.4 (23.6) | 59.2 (15.1) | 42.7 (5.9) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 58.1 (14.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 35.7 (2.1) | 44.2 (6.8) | 53.8 (12.1) | 63.7 (17.6) | 71.3 (21.8) | 69.0 (20.6) | 58.4 (14.7) | 44.8 (7.1) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 17.6 (−8.0) | 43.9 (6.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 4.2 (−15.4) | 9.6 (−12.4) | 22.2 (−5.4) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 40.3 (4.6) | 48.5 (9.2) | 54.8 (12.7) | 52.2 (11.2) | 42.5 (5.8) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 17.1 (−8.3) | 5.7 (−14.6) | 29.8 (−1.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −16.8 (−27.1) | −13.3 (−25.2) | 2.8 (−16.2) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 26.7 (−2.9) | 36.7 (2.6) | 45.7 (7.6) | 41.9 (5.5) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 13.4 (−10.3) | −2.8 (−19.3) | −14.0 (−25.6) | −22.4 (−30.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −46 (−43) | −45 (−43) | −24 (−31) | −18 (−28) | 15 (−9) | 26 (−3) | 30 (−1) | 29 (−2) | 9 (−13) | −13 (−25) | −28 (−33) | −46 (−43) | −46 (−43) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.35 (8.9) | 0.43 (11) | 0.71 (18) | 1.31 (33) | 1.98 (50) | 1.09 (28) | 0.70 (18) | 0.45 (11) | 0.80 (20) | 0.93 (24) | 0.44 (11) | 0.31 (7.9) | 9.50 (241) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.5 (14) | 7.4 (19) | 6.5 (17) | 7.2 (18) | 2.1 (5.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (1.5) | 4.4 (11) | 5.3 (13) | 5.3 (13) | 44.3 (111.8) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 61.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 28.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[12] | |||||||||||||
Brunton, Inc. is home to the manufacturer of theBrunton compass.
Public education in the city of Riverton is provided byFremont County School District #25. The district operates three K–3 elementary schools (Ashgrove, Willow Creek, and Jackson), Rendezvous Elementary School (grades 4–5), Riverton Middle School (grades 6–8), andRiverton High School (grades 9–12).
Central Wyoming College is located in Riverton, with off-campus sites inJackson,Lander,Thermopolis,Dubois, and theWind River Indian Reservation.
Riverton has apublic library, a branch of the Fremont County Library System.[14]
The Northern Arapaho Language Immersion School had 20 students in 2009.[15] It was created byNorthern Arapaho tribe to preserve the language, with only English classes being English medium. It was meant to open in August 2008.[16] It was inspired by immersion programs inHawaii andNew Zealand. Another school,Arapahoe School, received a federal grant intended to last for five years to have a bilingual program, though Arapaho instruction is more limited there.[17]
Emergency services are provided by the Riverton Police Department, Riverton Volunteer Fire Department, Fremont County Fire Protection District Battalion 1, and Frontier Ambulance.
In December of 2024, Riverton Police Chief Eric Hurtado announced a nearly full staff consisting of 26 sworn officers. The Riverton Police Department has two remaining vacancies.[18]
Wind River Transportation Authority provides transit service throughout Fremont County.
A daily passenger service is available to Denver atCentral Wyoming Regional Airport, with service provided bySkyWest Airlines operating asUnited Express. The airport also provides rental car services throughHertz as well as general aviation services.
Municipalities and communities ofFremont County, Wyoming,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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