Kemmerer, Wyoming
Location of Kemmerer, Wyoming
Coordinates: 41°47′22″N 110°32′47″W / 41.78944, -110.54639
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
County	Lincoln
Area
- Total	7.4 sq mi (19.1 km²)
- Land	7.4 sq mi (19.1 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	6,949 ft (2,118 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,651
- Density	359.7/sq mi (138.9/km²)
Time zone	Mountain (MST) (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	83101
Area code(s)	307
FIPS code	56-42005[1]
GNIS feature ID	1590317[2]

A power plant just west of Kemmerer on U.S. Highway 30

Kemmerer is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States.^[3] The population was 2,651 at the 2000 census. It dubs itself the "The Fossil Fish Capital of the World" and the "Gateway to the West."

Geography

Kemmerer is located at 41°47′22″N, 110°32′47″W (41.789391, -110.546299)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.1 km²), of which, 7.4 square miles (19.1 km²) of it is land and 0.14% is water.

Kemmerer is surrounded by high desert and the Rocky Mountains.

History

Explorer John C. Frémont discovered coal in the area during his second expedition in 1843. The Union Pacific Coal Co. opened the first underground mine in 1881 after construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad from Granger to Oregon. ^[5]

Patrick J. Quealy (1857-1930) founded Kemmerer as an "independent town" in 1897 when he was vice-president of the the Kemmerer Coal Company, located 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the original townsite. He named the company and town after his financial backer, Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer (1843-1925). In 1950, the operation converted to strip mining and became the world's largest open pit coal mine. In 1980 the Kemmerer Coal Co. was sold to the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, now a subsidiary of the Chevron Corporation. The pit remains in operation today with an annual output of about 5 million tons.

Quealy sold lots in the townsite rather than lease them, which permitted the establishment of independent businesses. The company's subsidiary, Frontier Supply Company, provided electricity by utilizing a used $1,150.00 generator acquired in Utah.

Quealy was originally from Ireland. In Wyoming, he and his wife became active in Democratic Party politics and in St. Patrick's Church, for which the company donated land.

Quealy was the founding president of the First National Bank, established in 1900. Kemmerer Savings Bank was founded in 1909. It's president Asbury D. Hoskins was manager of the Blyth-Fargo-Hoskins Company, and was later elected Whoming state treasurer in 1919.

Demographics

Kemmerer, Wyoming.

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,651 people, 1,034 households, and 695 families residing in the city. The population density was 359.7 people per square mile (138.9/km²). There were 1,208 housing units at an average density of 163.9/sq mi (63.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.11% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.36% of the population.

There were 1,034 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,353, and the median income for a family was $55,529. Males had a median income of $45,921 versus $23,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,478. About 5.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older.

Attractions

Kemmerer is the location of the JC Penney mother store. The Fossil Butte National Monument is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 30.

Notable people born or raised in Kemmerer

• John Buck, catcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Jerry Buss, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers (raised near Kemmerer)

Pop Culture References

Kemmerer, referred to as "Old Town," serves as the setting for Philip K. Dick's 1959 sci-fi novel Time Out of Joint.

See also

• Fossil Butte National Monument

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
5. ^ Historic Kemmerer. Wyoming Tales and Trails. Retrieved on 2006-03-07.

External links

• Kemmerer, Wyoming is at coordinates 41°47′22″N 110°32′47″W / 41.789391, -110.546299 (Kemmerer, Wyoming)Coordinates: 41°47′22″N 110°32′47″W / 41.789391, -110.546299 (Kemmerer, Wyoming)
• Kemmerer website
• Kemmerer Chamber of Commerce website

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