Casper, Wyoming
Though founded in 1859, it was not until the discovery
of oil in 1890 that Casper became a hub of activity and
commerce. And in spite of the crash in 1929, oil still flowed
through feeder lines into Casper. Today, oil, along with
light manufacturing, coal, bentonite, agriculture, uranium
mining and tourism, continues to contribute to the area’s
economy.
If you love outdoor fun, then Casper has several places you are sure to enjoy.
The Edness K. Wilkins State Park provides swimming, fishing,
hiking and picnicking in its 300 acres along the Oregon
Trail and the famous Platte River. The Lee McCune Braille
Trail is 1/3 of a mile long and can be explored by the sighted
and the visually impaired.The self-guided trail has signs in Braille and English
at 36 interpretive stations.
At Casper Mountain and Beartrap
Meadows Park you can go exploring on the mountain bike trails,
picnicking, and camping. There are also trails for snowmobiling
and Nordic ski trails. Other snow activity can be found
at Hagadon Ski Area. Here, you will find 2 double lifts,
a Pomalift, a ski school, and rentals. The longest run is
¾ of a mile and has a 600 foot drop.
 To
get in touch with the past, visit Independence Rock
which is also called the “Register of the Desert." The 193
foot tall rock is inscribed with over 50,000 pioneer
names, some of which are over 100 years old. The National
Historic Trails Interpretive Center, established in 2002,
has exhibits on topics ranging from packing for a cross
country wagon train trip to fording a river by wagon. You
will learn about the trails-the Oregon, the California,
the Mormon, the Pony Express, the Pioneer- and you can follow
part of the trail that runs through the center’s property.
The Devil’s Gate is a landmark along the Mormon Trail and
commemorates where 145 people died in an early, difficult
winter.
If you love viewing the night sky, be sure to visit the Casper Planetarium. They have 3, one hour shows each night from June to September and from Thanksgiving to December 24th.
Casper Demographics
Casper Population: 52,089 as of 2007
Climate: Casper gets 13 inches of rain per year. Snowfall is 52 inches. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 75. On average, there are 220 sunny days per year in Casper. The July high is around 89 degrees. The January low is 15.
Cost of Living / Economy: The unemployment rate is 2.80%, with job growth of 1.22%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 21.03%. Sales tax rate is 5.00%. Income tax is 0.00%.
The income per capita is $22,922, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $43,079. Compared to the rest of the country, Casper's cost of living is 10.49% Lower than the U.S. average.
Education: Schools spend $5,604 per student. There are 14 pupils per teacher, 437 students per librarian, and 276 children per counselor.
Real Estate / Housing: The median home value is $219,200. Home appreciation is -0.27% over the last year. Renters make up 30.66% of the population. 6.80% of houses and apartments are unoccupied.
Photo Credits: Independence Rock by Jim
Bowen; Casper Pan by Justin Brockie
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