Laramie County was originally created in 1867 as a county within theDakota Territory.[3] The county was named forJacques La Ramee, aFrench-Canadianfur-trader.[4] In 1867, a portion of Laramie County was annexed to createSweetwater County; in 1868; further annexations occurred to createAlbany County andCarbon County. Laramie County became a county in theWyoming Territory when the territorial government was formed in 1869.Crook County was created with land ceded by Laramie County in 1875. In 1888,Converse County was formed from a portion of Laramie County. In 1911,Goshen andPlatte Counties were formed from parts of Laramie County, giving the county its current boundaries.
The county's early economy was based on agriculture and livestock raising. The present-day Wyoming Stock Growers Association[5] dates from that era. Other types of animal husbandry also occurred.[6]
Some of the settlers in early Laramie County were foreign immigrants; for example,Burns was largely settled by German immigrants.[6]
The Laramie County Library System is one of the oldest continually operating county library systems in the United States,[7] the first branch established inCheyenne in 1886.[8] In 1899,Andrew Carnegie donated $50,000 toward the building of the state's first Carnegie Public Library, which opened in 1902.[7] The library moved to a larger location in 1969.[8] In 2007, a second library opened.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,688 square miles (6,960 km2), of which 2,686 square miles (6,960 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.06%) is water.[9]
As of the 2000 census, Laramie County had 31,927 households, of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% weremarried couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of a single individual and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
The county population contained 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, the county had 100-100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,607, and the median income for a family was $46,536. Males had a median income of $31,644 versus $24,406 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,634. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 91,738 people, 37,576 households, and 24,340 families in the county.[15] The population density was 34.2 people per square mile (13.2 people/km2). There were 40,462 housing units at an average density of 15.1 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% white, 2.5% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 1.0% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 3.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 13.1% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 29.5% wereGerman, 15.5% wereIrish, 12.7% wereEnglish, and 4.9% wereAmerican.[17]
Of the 37,576 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 37.0 years.[15]
The median income for a household in the county was $52,824 and the median income for a family was $64,589. Males had a median income of $44,001 versus $32,882 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,406. About 6.7% of families and 9.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[18]
Like Wyoming as a whole, Laramie County is strongly Republican. It is extremely conservative for an urban county, having not backed the Democratic presidential candidate sinceLyndon Johnson in 1964–one of only two times since 1952 that it has supported a Democrat. In 2016,Hillary Clinton managed to win just 28.3 percent of the vote in the county, the lowest total of any presidential candidate in Laramie sinceJohn W. Davis in 1924, when a large proportion of progressive voters defected toRobert M. La Follette, Sr.[21] Nonetheless, the county is the third-friendliest to Democrats in the state, beaten only byTeton County andAlbany County.
United States presidential election results for Laramie County, Wyoming[21]
Hallberg, L.L. and J.P. Mason. (2007).Selected hydrogeologic data for the High Plains aquifer in southwestern Laramie County WY, 1931-2006 [US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1069]. Reston VA: US Dept of the Interior, US Geological Survey.