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Buffalo, Wyoming
Occidental Hotel, Buffalo, Wyoming
Occidental Hotel, Buffalo, Wyoming
Location of Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming.
Location of Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming.
Country United States
State Wyoming
County Johnson
Area
 • Total 4.48 sq mi (11.61 km2)
 • Land 4.48 sq mi (11.61 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
4,646 ft (1,416 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 4,585
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,575
 • Density 1,020.98/sq mi (394.22/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
82834, 82840
Area code(s) 307
FIPS code 56-10685
GNIS feature ID 1586043

Buffalo is a city in Johnson County, Wyoming, United States. The city is located almost equidistant between Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore. The population was 4,585 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The city has experienced an economic boom due to methane production from the coal bed methane extraction method used in the Powder River Basin and surrounding areas. However, with the decline of methane production, Buffalo's population has stabilized since the 2010 Census. Even though energy is a vital part of its economy, agriculture, tourism, and recreations are three other major components. Buffalo is at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.46 square miles (11.55 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,087
1900 710 −34.7%
1910 1,368 92.7%
1920 1,772 29.5%
1930 1,749 −1.3%
1940 2,302 31.6%
1950 2,674 16.2%
1960 2,907 8.7%
1970 3,394 16.8%
1980 3,799 11.9%
1990 3,302 −13.1%
2000 3,900 18.1%
2010 4,585 17.6%
2019 (est.) 4,575 −0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,585 people, 2,080 households, and 1,198 families living in the city. The population density was 1,028.0 inhabitants per square mile (396.9/km2). There were 2,300 housing units at an average density of 515.7 per square mile (199.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 0.3% African American, 1.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 2,080 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.4% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 42.2 years. 23% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

Transportation

Buffalo is located near the northern terminus of Interstate 25, where it joins with Interstate 90.

Nearby Airports:

  • Sheridan (SHR) - Approx. 1/2-hour drive to Buffalo
  • Gillette (GCC) - Approx. 1-hour drive to Buffalo
  • Casper (CPR) - Approx. 1.5-hour drive to Buffalo
  • Billings (BIL) - Apprx. 2+hours drive to Buffalo


Public Transport

Buffalo and its surroundings are served by the Buffalo Area Transit System which is a paratransit service operated by the Buffalo Senior Center Buffalo Area Transit System also offers trips to Sheridan and Casper.

Climate

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

Climate data for Buffalo
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 66
(19)
74
(23)
78
(26)
88
(31)
93
(34)
102
(39)
105
(41)
106
(41)
101
(38)
89
(32)
80
(27)
70
(21)
106
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 33.0
(0.6)
38.0
(3.3)
46.7
(8.2)
55.5
(13.1)
64.9
(18.3)
76.4
(24.7)
84.0
(28.9)
83.3
(28.5)
71.6
(22.0)
59.7
(15.4)
43.2
(6.2)
34.8
(1.6)
57.6
(14.2)
Average low °F (°C) 7.3
(−13.7)
13.0
(−10.6)
22.4
(−5.3)
32.0
(0.0)
41.0
(5.0)
50.3
(10.2)
56.2
(13.4)
54.6
(12.6)
43.4
(6.3)
32.3
(0.2)
18.9
(−7.3)
9.6
(−12.4)
31.8
(−0.1)
Record low °F (°C) −36
(−38)
−32
(−36)
−22
(−30)
5
(−15)
13
(−11)
27
(−3)
32
(0)
33
(1)
13
(−11)
−8
(−22)
−24
(−31)
−35
(−37)
−36
(−38)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.45
(11)
0.39
(9.9)
0.73
(19)
1.60
(41)
2.44
(62)
2.13
(54)
1.48
(38)
0.89
(23)
1.37
(35)
1.04
(26)
0.49
(12)
0.48
(12)
13.49
(342.9)
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)

Education

Public education in the city of Buffalo is provided by Johnson County School District #1. Schools serving the city include Meadowlark Elementary School (grades K-2) Cloud Peak Elementary School (grades 3–5), Clear Creek Middle School (grades 6–8), and Buffalo High School (grades 9–12). Buffalo High School was in the national news spot light after the (former) head football coach, distributed an offensive "hurt feelings report" in November 2011. This attention brought several heated school board meetings and eventually lead to the resignation of Lynch as the head football coach.

Buffalo has a public library, the Johnson County Library.

Notable people

Jim gatchell museum
Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wy.
  • Mark Gordon (born 1957), businessman, rancher from Buffalo and Wyoming governor
  • Frank E. Lucas (1876–1948), Governor of Wyoming
  • Mathew Pitsch (born 1963), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Fort Smith since 2015; Buffalo native
  • Chris Prosinski (born 1987), safety for the Chicago Bears; previously played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles
  • Constantine Scollen (1841–1902), missionary, resident priest from 1893 to 1894
  • Joe Tiller (1942–2017), head football coach Wyoming (six years) and Purdue (nine years), winningest coach ever at Purdue

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Búfalo (Wyoming) para niños

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