Rock Springs, Wyoming
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| Rock Springs, Wyoming | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Sweetwater |
| Area | |
| - Total | 18.4 sq mi (47.8 km²) |
| - Land | 18.4 sq mi (47.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 6,388 ft (1,947 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 18,708 |
| - Density | 1,014.4/sq mi (391.7/km²) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| - Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP codes | 82901, 82902, 82942 |
| Area code(s) | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-67235[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1593588[2] |
Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area with a population of 37,975.
On September 2, 1885, 150 white miners attacked their Chinese coworkers, killing 28, wounding 15, and forcing several hundred more out of town. The event is known as the Rock Springs Massacre and is one of the worst race riots in American history.
As of 2006, there are still remains of the old coal mining towns outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming. The site has great historical significance and contains artifacts relating to the Rock Springs Massacre.[citation needed]
Rock Springs is also home to Western Wyoming Community College, and Wyoming's Big Show a yearly event featuring a carnival and concerts, held at the Sweetwater County Events Complex.[3]
Rock Springs is currently in the midst of an energy boom due to the large number of oil and natural gas wells in the region. The local economy is short mainly on service industry employees but due to the low number of viable employees, the jobs are well paying by national standards.
Richard Honaker, a Rock Springs attorney and former Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, was nominated in 2007 by U.S. President George W. Bush as U.S. District Judge. The appointment, however, has been blocked by secularists and abortion advocates who object to Honaker's view of the United States being a "Christian nation" and his opposition to abortion. A inconclusive hearing on the Honaker nomination was held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 12, 2008.[citation needed]
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[edit] Geography
Rock Springs is located at (41.585106, -109.221392)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.45 square miles (47.87 km²), all of it land.
The city is approximately 6759 feet (2060 m) above sea level.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 18,708 people, 7,348 households, and 4,930 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.4 people per square mile (391.7/km²). There were 8,359 housing units at an average density of 453.3/sq mi (175.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.75% White, 1.07% African American, 0.86% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.05% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 7,348 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,584, and the median income for a family was $51,539. Males had a median income of $44,809 versus $22,609 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,396. About 6.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable residents
- Adam Archuleta, safety for the Chicago Bears, was born in Rock Springs.
[edit] Media
The Rock Springs areas is served by four newspapers: The Daily Rocket-Miner, The Mustang Express, formerly The Oracle (Western Wyoming Community College newspaper), The Marquee (a media and entertainment supplement published in the Rocket-Miner), The Green River Star (a weekly newspaper published in Green River), and The Sweetwater County Guide (a weekly shopper's guide published by The Green River Star.)
[edit] Entertainment
Every year during July and August, the city holds a county fair called Wyoming's Big Show. The event includes theme park rides, booths, restaurants, and live entertainment. Rodeos have also been a staple of the fair. Some past performers at the fair's concerts have been Matchbox 20, Night Ranger, Uncle Kracker, and many others.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Sweetwater Events Complex Website
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of Rock Springs
- Rock Springs Photos (from Wyoming Tales and Trails)
- Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner
- Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce
- Community Fine Arts Center
- Rock Springs, Wyoming is at coordinates Coordinates:
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