Sundance, Wyoming Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí | |
|---|---|
 Old wooden jail (left) and stone school building in Sundance | |
 Location of Sundance in Crook County, Wyoming. | |
  Sundance, Wyoming Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°24′23″N104°22′33″W / 44.40639°N 104.37583°W /44.40639; -104.37583[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Crook |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Paul Brooks |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.06 sq mi (7.93 km2) |
| • Land | 3.05 sq mi (7.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0077 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,738 ft (1,444 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,032 |
• Estimate (2019)[4] | 1,292 |
| • Density | 423.4/sq mi (163.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code | 82729 |
| Area code | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-74195[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1603438[1] |
| Website | http://www.cityofsundancewy.com/ |
Sundance (Lakota:Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí;[6] "Sun-watching Dance") is a town in and thecounty seat ofCrook County, Wyoming, United States.[7] Its population was 1,032 at the2020 census. The town is named after theSun Dance ceremony practiced by severalAmerican Indian tribes.[8]
Sundance was established in 1875 as a trading post. TheSundance Kid was arrested for a theft he committed here in 1887, the only time he was ever incarcerated, and he took the town's name as a nickname.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 515 | — | |
| 1900 | 294 | −42.9% | |
| 1910 | 281 | −4.4% | |
| 1920 | 328 | 16.7% | |
| 1930 | 369 | 12.5% | |
| 1940 | 685 | 85.6% | |
| 1950 | 893 | 30.4% | |
| 1960 | 908 | 1.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,056 | 16.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,087 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,139 | 4.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,161 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,182 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,032 | −12.7% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,292 | [4] | 9.3% |
| 1890-2010 census[9] | |||
As of thecensus[3] of 2010, 1,182 people, 532 households, and 326 families lived in the town. Thepopulation density was 387.5 inhabitants per square mile (149.6/km2). The 606 housing units had an average density of 198.7 per square mile (76.7/km2). Theracial makeup of the town was 97.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.2% of the population.
Of the 532 households, 25.0% had children under 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.7% were not families. About 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.76.
The median age in the town was 47.5 years; 19.3% of residents were under 18; 6.1% were between 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.
As of thecensus[5] of 2000, 1,161 people, 476 households, and 318 families resided in the town. Thepopulation density was 582.2 people per square mile (225.3/km2). The 545 housing units had an average density of 273.3 per square mile (105.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 1.64% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 0.60% of the population.
Of the 476 households, 27.7% had children under 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were not families. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town, the age distribution was 24.1% under 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,029, and for a family was $50,598. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $21,000 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $18,300. About 3.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.8% of those under 18 and 13.5% of those 65 or over.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.06 square miles (7.93 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is covered by water.[10]
The town is directly south of theBear Lodge Mountains, part of theBlack Hills National Forest.
Sundance experiences ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfb) with higher precipitation than thesemiarid regions surrounding it due to its location in theBlack Hills.
| Climate data for Sundance, Wyoming (1991–2020 normals; extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 66 (19) | 77 (25) | 86 (30) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 102 (39) | 99 (37) | 93 (34) | 77 (25) | 65 (18) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.4 (10.8) | 52.7 (11.5) | 65.9 (18.8) | 74.8 (23.8) | 83.4 (28.6) | 91.1 (32.8) | 96.0 (35.6) | 94.4 (34.7) | 89.6 (32.0) | 78.5 (25.8) | 63.9 (17.7) | 52.1 (11.2) | 97.3 (36.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) | 34.1 (1.2) | 44.2 (6.8) | 52.2 (11.2) | 62.6 (17.0) | 73.1 (22.8) | 82.0 (27.8) | 80.8 (27.1) | 71.4 (21.9) | 55.8 (13.2) | 42.2 (5.7) | 32.5 (0.3) | 55.3 (12.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 33.2 (0.7) | 40.7 (4.8) | 50.9 (10.5) | 60.9 (16.1) | 68.7 (20.4) | 67.3 (19.6) | 58.1 (14.5) | 44.2 (6.8) | 32.1 (0.1) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 43.8 (6.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.2 (−10.4) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 22.2 (−5.4) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 39.2 (4.0) | 48.8 (9.3) | 55.5 (13.1) | 53.8 (12.1) | 44.8 (7.1) | 32.6 (0.3) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 32.4 (0.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −10.3 (−23.5) | −10.0 (−23.3) | −1.0 (−18.3) | 12.7 (−10.7) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 37.0 (2.8) | 44.6 (7.0) | 41.9 (5.5) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 13.7 (−10.2) | 0.6 (−17.4) | −9.3 (−22.9) | −19.7 (−28.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) | −42 (−41) | −24 (−31) | −11 (−24) | 7 (−14) | 25 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 30 (−1) | 6 (−14) | −17 (−27) | −23 (−31) | −40 (−40) | −42 (−41) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.82 (21) | 0.89 (23) | 1.04 (26) | 2.48 (63) | 3.47 (88) | 3.03 (77) | 2.48 (63) | 1.71 (43) | 1.32 (34) | 1.71 (43) | 0.91 (23) | 0.51 (13) | 20.37 (517) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.9 (33) | 14.7 (37) | 10.3 (26) | 13.2 (34) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 5.8 (15) | 9.8 (25) | 12.2 (31) | 81.3 (207) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 9.3 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 107.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.6 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 5.6 | 7.5 | 44.1 |
| Source:NOAA[11][12] | |||||||||||||
Public education in the town of Sundance is provided byCrook County School District #1. Zoned campuses include Sundance Elementary School (kindergarten - grade 6), and Sundance Secondary School (grades 7–12).
Sundance has apublic library, a branch of the Crook County Public Library system.[13]
Devils Tower National Monument, a 1,267-foot (386 m) highigneous rockintrusion orlaccolith in theBear Lodge Mountains, is a short drive north of Sundance viaUS-14 andWyoming Highway 585. It rises dramatically above the surrounding terrain, with its summit 5,114 feet (1,559 m) above sea level. It was the firstU.S. National Monument, established on September 24, 1906, by PresidentTheodore Roosevelt. It receives about 400,000 visitors annually.[14]
Sundance is served by theSundance Times newspaper, which reports on local news.[15]
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After his release from the town jail in 1888,Harry Longabaugh, anoutlaw and member ofButch Cassidy's Wild Bunch in theAmerican Old West, acquired themoniker "the Sundance Kid". Hisnickname entered the popular culture with release of the 1969 movieButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which won severalAcademy Awards, includingBest Original Screenplay.Robert Redford, who portrayed Longabaugh in the movie, later named hisSundance Ski Resort nearProvo, Utah, and theSundance Film Festival after this character.
The town of Sundance is the primary setting ofScumble, a children's novel byIngrid Law, and a sequel to her earlier children's book,Savvy. Sundance, Wyoming, is also the primary setting for Lorelei James' novels in her "Rough Riders" series of 16 books involving the fictional McKay family, eking out a living as multigenerational ranchers and the younger generation's accepting who they are individually, the ins and outs of working with family every day, and finding love.
Municipalities and communities ofCrook County, Wyoming,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
