Cody, Wyoming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cody, Wyoming
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Location of Cody in Park County, Wyoming.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Wyoming | |
| County | Park | |
| Named for | Buffalo Bill Cody | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor–council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.46 sq mi (27.08 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.22 sq mi (26.47 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.61 km2) | |
| Elevation | 5,016 ft (1,529 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,028 | |
| • Density | 957.73/sq mi (369.79/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain (MST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | |
| ZIP code |
82414
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| Area code(s) | 307 | |
| FIPS code | 56-15760 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1586861 | |
Cody is a city in Wyoming, United States. It is the main city of Park County. The city is named after Buffalo Bill Cody, who helped start it in 1896.
In 2020, about 10,028 people lived in Cody. This makes it the eleventh-largest city in Wyoming. Cody has its own airport, called Yellowstone Regional Airport.
Contents
Exploring Cody's Geography
Cody covers about 10.43 square miles (27.08 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The city is about 4,997 feet (1,523 meters) above sea level. Cody is built on three different levels, with each level being about 60 feet (18 meters) higher than the last.
Rivers and Mountains Around Cody
The Shoshone River flows through a canyon in Cody. There are four bridges over this river nearby. Two bridges help people travel north or east to places like Powell. The other two bridges are west of town. One leads to the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. The other is used by fishermen and to reach the Buffalo Bill Dam.
Cody is on the western edge of the Bighorn Basin. This basin is a large area surrounded by mountains. These include the Big Horn Mountains, Owl Creek Mountains, Bridger, and Absaroka Range mountains.
West of Cody, the Shoshone River has carved a deep canyon. This canyon is the only way to get to Yellowstone's Eastern Entrance. Two mountains stand tall near Cody: Rattlesnake Mountain to the north and Cedar Mountain to the south. From Cody, you can also see Heart Mountain, which is about 9 miles (14 km) north. The Carter Mountain massif, with peaks over 12,000 feet (3,658 meters), is about 15 miles (24 km) south.
Cody's Climate and Weather
Cody has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but conditions can change a lot. Summers are warm, sometimes reaching over 90°F (32°C). Winters are cold, with very cold periods mixed with milder days. The air is often dry, with low humidity.
Cody gets about 11.5 inches (29 cm) of rain each year. It also gets about 45 inches (114 cm) of snow per season. However, snow doesn't stay on the ground for long because it's so dry. Cody enjoys about 300 sunny days every year!
Wind is almost always present in Cody. It can be quite strong, blowing at 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 km/h) for several days. The canyon west of Cody funnels wind and rain across the city.
Because of the dry climate, there are many irrigation canals and reservoirs. The Buffalo Bill Dam creates a large reservoir about 10 miles (16 km) west of Cody. This reservoir helps supply water for farming in the area.
The average temperature in Cody ranges from 27.3°F (-2.6°C) in December to 70.6°F (21.4°C) in July. It gets about 16 days a year over 90°F (32°C) and about 12 days a year below 0°F (-18°C). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 105°F (41°C). The coldest was -46°F (-43°C).
| Climate data for Cody, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
103 (39) |
97 (36) |
87 (31) |
74 (23) |
67 (19) |
105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.2 (13.4) |
56.5 (13.6) |
66.4 (19.1) |
75.3 (24.1) |
81.6 (27.6) |
89.8 (32.1) |
94.9 (34.9) |
93.2 (34.0) |
88.4 (31.3) |
78.0 (25.6) |
64.3 (17.9) |
55.4 (13.0) |
95.6 (35.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.5 (3.1) |
38.7 (3.7) |
48.7 (9.3) |
55.3 (12.9) |
64.4 (18.0) |
74.8 (23.8) |
84.0 (28.9) |
82.2 (27.9) |
72.3 (22.4) |
58.0 (14.4) |
44.8 (7.1) |
36.5 (2.5) |
58.1 (14.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.5 (−2.5) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
37.7 (3.2) |
44.2 (6.8) |
53.1 (11.7) |
62.4 (16.9) |
70.6 (21.4) |
68.9 (20.5) |
59.7 (15.4) |
46.9 (8.3) |
35.2 (1.8) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
46.8 (8.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.5 (−8.1) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
33.0 (0.6) |
41.9 (5.5) |
50.0 (10.0) |
57.3 (14.1) |
55.6 (13.1) |
47.2 (8.4) |
35.9 (2.2) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
35.6 (2.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −8.6 (−22.6) |
−3.2 (−19.6) |
5.6 (−14.7) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
38.1 (3.4) |
47.5 (8.6) |
43.3 (6.3) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
16.5 (−8.6) |
2.1 (−16.6) |
−5.7 (−20.9) |
−16.0 (−26.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −40 (−40) |
−46 (−43) |
−23 (−31) |
−18 (−28) |
15 (−9) |
25 (−4) |
33 (1) |
29 (−2) |
9 (−13) |
−11 (−24) |
−24 (−31) |
−35 (−37) |
−46 (−43) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.37 (9.4) |
0.46 (12) |
0.55 (14) |
1.35 (34) |
2.18 (55) |
1.62 (41) |
0.89 (23) |
0.90 (23) |
1.15 (29) |
0.99 (25) |
0.59 (15) |
0.46 (12) |
11.51 (292.4) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.3 (19) |
7.5 (19) |
5.8 (15) |
5.9 (15) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
3.4 (8.6) |
6.4 (16) |
7.5 (19) |
45.0 (114) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.7 | 10.4 | 9.1 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 72.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 18.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Cody's Culture and History
Cody's culture is deeply connected to its pioneer, cowboy, and Western history. Many events and activities celebrate this heritage.
Museums and Historic Sites
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a large museum complex. It has five museums in one! You can explore natural history, Plains Indian culture, firearms, Western art, and the life of William F. Cody. This center is a popular stop for tourists visiting Yellowstone.
Old Trail Town is another interesting place. It's a collection of over 25 old Western buildings and artifacts. It shows what life was like in the Old West.
Rodeo Capital of the World
Cody is known as the "Rodeo Capital of the World." Rodeo is a very important part of its culture. The Cody Nite Rodeo is an amateur rodeo held every night from June 1st to August 31st.
Cody also hosts the Cody Stampede Rodeo. This is a big professional rodeo that happens every year around the Fourth of July. Many top cowboys come to compete. The Stampede has been held since 1919. The week-long celebration includes parades, rodeos, and fireworks. In 2019, the Cody Stampede celebrated its 100th year!
Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was a place where 14,000 Japanese Americans were held during World War II. Today, it's an Interpretive Center about 17 miles (27 km) east of Cody. It has original buildings, a war memorial, and a museum.
Arts in Cody
Cody has a lively arts scene. You can see visual arts at the Whitney Western Arts Museum, inside the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. There are also many local art galleries like the Cody Country Art League. Artists love to capture the beautiful nature and Western style of the area.
For almost 20 years, Cody has hosted the Rendezvous Royale art festival. This week-long event includes the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale. This show features amazing Western art from new and famous artists. The festival also has talks, workshops, and a fancy ball.
Live music is popular in Cody, especially in the summer. The city has a Concert in the Park series. The Cody Cattle Company and Dan Miller's Cowboy Music Revue offer nightly shows. Many local bars also host touring musicians.
Cody is home to several theater and dance groups. They put on community plays and offer dance classes for all ages. These groups produce many shows throughout the year. The Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre performs The Nutcracker every December. They also have a show called The Wild West Spectacular Musical.
Education in Cody
Kids in Cody go to public schools run by Park County School District #6.
- Elementary Schools: Eastside, Glenn Livingston, and Sunset schools teach students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
- Middle School: Cody Middle School is for grades 6-8.
- High School: Cody High School serves students in grades 9-12.
Cody also has a public library. It is part of the Park County Library System.
Cody's Industries
The main industry in Cody is tourism. Hotels, restaurants, and shops welcome travelers. Many visitors are on their way to or from Yellowstone National Park. Cody also has several art galleries, with talented local painters and artists.
Cody is becoming a popular spot for outdoor fun. The Shoshone River offers kayaking and whitewater rafting. Shoshone Canyon has over 300 rock climbing routes. Cedar Mountain is great for bouldering. Cody has nearly 50 miles (80 km) of bike trails, many reachable from town. There's even a new bike park with jumps and a pump track.
Skiing is also very popular. Both downhill and cross-country skiing are enjoyed. Cody High School has competitive ski teams. Sleeping Giant Ski Area & Zipline is a local downhill ski mountain. It's about an hour west of Cody, near the Yellowstone East Entrance.
Another industry in Cody is Western-style furniture. Several small businesses create custom furniture pieces.
The oil industry has been important in the Cody area over the years. Husky Energy started in Cody in 1938. It used to operate an oil refinery there.
Large deposits of gypsum are found just south of Cody.
Park County School District #6 is also a big employer in the area.
Cody's Population (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,132 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,242 | 9.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,800 | 44.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,536 | 40.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,872 | 52.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,838 | 24.9% | |
| 1970 | 5,161 | 6.7% | |
| 1980 | 6,599 | 27.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,897 | 19.7% | |
| 2000 | 8,835 | 11.9% | |
| 2010 | 9,520 | 7.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,028 | 5.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,240 | 7.6% | |
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Cody had 10,066 people and 4,401 households. The city had about 981.7 people per square mile. Most residents (93.8%) were White. About 7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
About 21.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 6.6% were under 5 years old. People over 65 made up 19.4% of the population. The city was almost evenly split between females (49.9%) and males (50.1%).
The average household income was $59,682. The income per person was $34,127. About 8.9% of the people lived below the poverty line.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 9,520 people living in Cody. There were 4,278 households and 2,502 families. The population density was about 933.3 people per square mile.
About 95.9% of the people were White. About 3.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 26.5% of households, there were children under 18. About 45% of households were married couples. The average household had 2.19 people.
The average age in Cody was 42.4 years. About 21.8% of residents were under 18. About 18.2% were 65 or older. The population was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
Media in Cody
Cody has several radio stations, a TV station, and a newspaper.
AM Radio Stations
- KZMQ (AM) 1140 (Country music)
- KPOW 1260 (Country music)
- KODI 1400 (News/Talk)
FM Radio Stations
- KOFG 91.1 (Religious)
- KUWP 90.1 (Wyoming Public Radio and NPR)
- KTAG 97.9 (Adult Contemporary)
- KZMQ-FM 100.3 (Country music)
- KROW 101.1 (Contemporary Christian)
- KBEN-FM 103.3 (Classic Country)
- KCGL 104.1 (Classic hits)
- KWHO 107.1 (Classic rock)
Television Station
Newspaper
The Cody Enterprise is a newspaper published twice a week. It was started by "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1899.
Transportation in Cody
Highways
- U.S. 14, U.S. 16, and U.S. 20 all run through Cody.
US 14A west (Burgess Junction) - Powell Highway
WYO 120 - Belfry highway (north) / Meeteetse highway (south)
WYO 291 - South Fork Road
Airport
The Yellowstone Regional Airport offers flights for passengers. You can fly with SkyWest (part of United Airlines) to Denver, Colorado. FedEx and UPS also provide air cargo services.
Local Transportation
Cody has four local transportation companies: Cody Over Land Transit, Phidippides Shuttle Service, Cody Town Taxi, and the Cody Shuttle. Cody Over Land runs routes within the city during summer. Phidippides offers full service to Cody, Yellowstone, and airports in Cody, Jackson, and Billings. Cody Town Taxi and Cody Shuttle mainly operate within Cody.
You can also find bus service to Cody through Express Arrow.
Railroad
Cody is served by the Cody Branch of the BNSF Railway. This railway runs southwest from Frannie for about 46 miles (74 km). It ends in Cody near where WY-120 crosses the Shoshone River.
Notable People from Cody
Many interesting people have connections to Cody, Wyoming.
- Laura Bell, an author who lives in Cody.
- Luke Bell (1990–2022), a country musician who grew up in Cody.
- Eric Bischoff (born 1955), a famous person in Professional wrestling.
- William Frederick Cody (1846–1917), also known as "Buffalo Bill," a scout and showman. The city is named after him.
- Larry Echo Hawk (born 1948), a former attorney general of Idaho, born in Cody.
- Frank Tenney Johnson (1874–1939), a Western artist who had a studio in Cody.
- John Linebaugh, a gunsmith and inventor, born in Cody.
- Jackson Pollock (1912–1956), a famous painter, born in Cody.
- Colin M. Simpson (born 1959), a former Wyoming State Representative, lives in Cody.
- Milward Simpson (1897–1993), a former Governor and U.S. Senator for Wyoming, lived in Cody.
- Pete Simpson (born 1930), a historian and former state representative, born in Cody.
- Mark Spragg (born 1952), an author, born in Cody.
- Craig L. Thomas (1933–2007), a former U.S. Senator from Wyoming, born in Cody.
Sister Cities
Cody has one sister city:
Lanchkhuti, Georgia
See also
In Spanish: Cody (Wyoming) para niños
