Green River, Wyoming

Green River is a city in and the county seat of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States, in the southwestern part of the state.[6] The population was 12,515 at the 2010 census.

Green River, Wyoming
City
Downtown Green River, looking east at Flaming Gorge Way.
Location of Green River in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
Green River, Wyoming
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 41°31′43″N 109°27′58″W
CountryUnited States
StateWyoming
CountySweetwater
Area
 • Total14.11 sq mi (36.54 km2)
 • Land13.81 sq mi (35.76 km2)
 • Water0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2)
Elevation
6,115 ft (1,864 m)
Population
 • Total12,515
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
11,759
 • Density851.61/sq mi (328.81/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
82935, 82938
Area code(s)307
FIPS code56-33740[4]
GNIS feature ID1589126[5]
WebsiteCity of Green River

History
Construction of railroad bridge over Green River, 1868

Green River was incorporated in 1868 in what was then the Dakota Territory, on the banks of the Green River. The city was the starting point from which John Wesley Powell started his famous expeditions of the Green River, the Colorado River, and the Grand Canyon in the late 1800s.[7] The town of Green River was originally supposed to be the site of a division point for the Union Pacific Railroad, but when the railroad finally reached the point, officials were surprised to find that the large town had already been established there, likely requiring costly negotiations for railroad land. They moved the division point 12 miles (19 km) west, creating the town of Bryan, on the Blacks Fork of the Green River.[8]

At the time of its incorporation in 1868, Green River had about 2000 residents and permanent adobe buildings were being built. However, when the division point of the railroad was moved west, the settlement shrank to a mere 101 residents. Just when Green River was on the verge of becoming a ghost town, Blacks Fork dried up during a drought and the railroad was forced to move the division point back to Green River to ensure adequate water for its steam locomotives. The town was officially re-incorporated under the new laws of Wyoming on May 5, 1891, while Bryan became the ghost town.

The city is known as being one of the first in the United States to ban door-to-door solicitation, under the Green River Ordinance.[9]

Green River, 1919

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.02 square miles (36.31 km2), of which, 13.73 square miles (35.56 km2) is land and 0.29 square miles (0.75 km2) is water.[10]

Climate

Green River experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and hot, slightly wetter summers.

Climate data for Green River, Wyoming
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 60
(16)		 68
(20)		 74
(23)		 86
(30)		 94
(34)		 103
(39)		 104
(40)		 100
(38)		 98
(37)		 89
(32)		 73
(23)		 66
(19)		 104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3)		 37.6
(3.1)		 48.3
(9.1)		 58.4
(14.7)		 68.6
(20.3)		 79.3
(26.3)		 86.0
(30.0)		 84.5
(29.2)		 74.5
(23.6)		 62.5
(16.9)		 44.7
(7.1)		 34.6
(1.4)		 59.3
(15.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 18.9
(−7.3)		 23.3
(−4.8)		 35.0
(1.7)		 43.4
(6.3)		 52.3
(11.3)		 61.2
(16.2)		 67.4
(19.7)		 65.5
(18.6)		 55.7
(13.2)		 44.6
(7.0)		 30.5
(−0.8)		 20.2
(−6.6)		 43.2
(6.2)
Average low °F (°C) 5.2
(−14.9)		 9.0
(−12.8)		 21.6
(−5.8)		 28.3
(−2.1)		 36.0
(2.2)		 43.1
(6.2)		 48.8
(9.3)		 46.5
(8.1)		 36.9
(2.7)		 26.6
(−3.0)		 16.2
(−8.8)		 5.8
(−14.6)		 27.0
(−2.8)
Record low °F (°C) −40
(−40)		 −41
(−41)		 −26
(−32)		 −2
(−19)		 13
(−11)		 24
(−4)		 31
(−1)		 26
(−3)		 4
(−16)		 −5
(−21)		 −19
(−28)		 −42
(−41)		 −42
(−41)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.42
(11)		 0.36
(9.1)		 0.62
(16)		 0.89
(23)		 1.20
(30)		 0.79
(20)		 0.75
(19)		 0.63
(16)		 0.84
(21)		 0.68
(17)		 0.49
(12)		 0.35
(8.9)		 8.02
(203)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[11]
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870106—
1880327208.5%
1890723121.1%
19001,36188.2%
19101,313−3.5%
19202,14063.0%
19302,58921.0%
19402,6402.0%
19503,18720.7%
19603,4979.7%
19704,19620.0%
198012,807205.2%
199012,711−0.7%
200011,808−7.1%
201012,5156.0%
Est. 201911,759[3]−6.0%
[13]
Southeast Green River, from Mansface Hill

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 12,515 people, 4,642 households, and 3,406 families living in the city. The population density was 911.5 inhabitants per square mile (351.9/km2). There were 5,002 housing units at an average density of 364.3 per square mile (140.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.1% White, 0.4% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.4% of the population.

There were 4,642 households, of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 33.9 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 28.1% were from 45 to 64; and 8.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.6% male and 48.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 11,808 people, 4,177 households, and 3,212 families living in the city. The population density was 861.5 people per square mile (332.5/km2). There were 4,426 housing units at an average density of 322.9 per square mile (124.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.13% White, 0.27% African American, 1.36% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.23% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.21% of the population.

There were 4,177 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,164, and the median income for a family was $59,100. Males had a median income of $51,418 versus $24,306 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,398. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Green River, looking east

The Green River Basin contains the world's largest known deposit of trona ore. Soda ash mining from trona veins 900 and 1,600 feet (490 m) deep is a major industrial activity in the area, employing over 2000 persons at five mines. The mining operation is less expensive for production of soda ash in the United States than the synthetic Solvay process, which predominates in the rest of the world. The trona in Sweetwater County was created by an ancient body of water known as Lake Gosiute. Over time, the lake shrank. With the loss of outflows, highly alkaline water (salt brine) began to evaporate, depositing the beds of trona.[14]

The four mines are run by these companies:

  • Tata Chemicals Ltd.
  • Genesis Alkali LLC
  • Ciner Resources LP
  • Solvay Chemicals Inc.

The Green River Basin also has large oil shale and natural gas reserves, which remain virtually untouched due to the high cost of extracting the oil from the hard shale formations. However, an increase in oil prices in 2008 and a national desire to become more energy independent led to an increase in well drilling and oil exploration. Expansion growth from Halliburton and Exxon, as well as other oil companies, created a mini-boom for Green River and its sister city, Rock Springs.

The 80MW Sweetwater Solar project near Green River is "the first utility-scale solar farm" in Wyoming. It is slated to come online in 2019.[15][16][17] Concerns have been raised about its impact on antelope migration.[18]

Arts and culture

Flaming Gorge Days
Castle Rock

Every year, on the last full weekend of June, Green River hosts Flaming Gorge Days. The festival features concerts, 3-on-3 basketball, Red Desert Road Runner 5K race, Festival in the Park, among other activities. Past musical performances at the festival have included Poison, Tesla, Everclear, Head East, Neal McCoy, REO Speedwagon, Josh Gracin, Chris LeDoux and Trick Pony.[19]

Government

Green River's government consists of a six-member city council, each of whom are elected from one of three wards. Each ward elects two members. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council was criticized in 2007 for its handling of a smoking ban, which caused several residents to question the council's motives.[20]

The Mayor of Green River is Pete Rust, who was elected in November 2014.

Education

Public education in the City of Green River is provided by Sweetwater County School District #2. Schools serving the city include: Harrison Elementary, Truman Elementary, Washington Elementary, Monroe Intermediate School, Lincoln Middle School, and Green River High School. There is also one alternative high school campus - Expedition Academy.

Western Wyoming Community College is located in nearby Rock Springs and maintains an extension center in Green River.

Green River has a public library, a branch of the Sweetwater County Library System.[21]

Media

Hyperlocal websites

Green River is served by two hyperlocal news websites, SweetwaterNOW.com[22] and Wyo4news.com[23]

Print

Green River is served by two print publications: The Green River Star (a weekly newspaper published in Green River) and the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner.

Radio

Four larger radio stations originate from Green River, three FM stations: KYCS, KZWB and KFRZ as well as one AM station, KUGR. Stations from Rock Springs, Wyoming can also be heard in Green River.

Notable people
  • Heather Moody, Olympic water polo silver and bronze medalist.[24]
  • Curt Gowdy, a famous sports announcer, was born in Green River.
  • Justin Salas, an American mixed martial artist who competed as a lightweight in Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2012 to 2016.
  • Nick Mamalis, an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Bantamweight division
gollark: Hmmm.
gollark: ++delete <@258639553357676545>
gollark: It's WIP.
gollark: ++list_deleted
gollark: Oops.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Green River
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. City of Green River - About Green River Archived February 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  8. City of Green River - The Railroad Comes to Green River Archived November 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. City of Green River - Railroad Workers Demand Protection of Their Daytime Sleep Archived February 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  11. "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  12. "Monthly Averages for Green River, WY". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  13. "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of State / U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  14. City of Green River Archived November 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Wyoming - Rock Springs FO - Sweetwater Solar Energy Project". Bureau of Land Management. April 5, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  16. Richards, Heather (February 18, 2019). "With another solar development in the wings, is a new renewable coming for Wyoming?". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  17. Cates, Karl. "In Wyoming, a Potential Rural Template for a Revenue-Producing Solar Industry". Just Transition Fund. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  18. Wyoming News Exchange (December 11, 2019). "Antelope migration hindered by solar farm". Gillette News Record. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  19. 0 daysto go!. "Flaming Gorge Days website". Flaminggorgedays.com. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  20. "2007: A memorable year for GR Council". Greenriverstar.com. August 7, 2003. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  21. "Wyoming Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  22. http://sweetwaternow.com
  23. http://Wyo4news.com
  24. City of Green River Archived November 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.