Sundance, Wyoming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sundance, Wyoming
Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí
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Old wooden jail (left) and stone school building in Sundance
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Location of Sundance in Crook County, Wyoming.
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 Sundance, Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Crook |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.06 sq mi (7.93 km2) |
| • Land | 3.05 sq mi (7.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,738 ft (1,444 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,032 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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1,292 |
| • Density | 423.47/sq mi (163.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
82729
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| Area code(s) | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-74195 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1603438 |
| Website | http://www.cityofsundancewy.com/ |
Sundance is a town located in Crook County, Wyoming, United States. It is the main town and the county seat for Crook County. In 2020, about 1,032 people lived there.
The town's name comes from the Sun Dance ceremony. This important ceremony is practiced by several American Indian tribes. The name in the Lakota is Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí, which means "Sun-watching Dance."
Contents
A Look at Sundance History
Sundance began in 1875 as a place where people could trade goods. It was an important stop for travelers and traders.
A famous person known as the Sundance Kid once visited the town. In 1887, he was involved in an incident here and was held for a short time. This was the only time he was ever held by authorities. He later took the town's name as his own nickname.
People Living in Sundance
Sundance has seen its population change over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived in the town:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 515 | — | |
| 1900 | 294 | −42.9% | |
| 1910 | 281 | −4.4% | |
| 1920 | 328 | 16.7% | |
| 1930 | 369 | 12.5% | |
| 1940 | 685 | 85.6% | |
| 1950 | 893 | 30.4% | |
| 1960 | 908 | 1.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,056 | 16.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,087 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,139 | 4.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,161 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,182 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,032 | −12.7% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,292 | 9.3% | |
| 1890-2010 census | |||
What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, the census counted 1,182 people living in Sundance. There were 532 households and 326 families. The town had about 387.5 people per square mile.
Most people in Sundance were White (97.8%). A small number were African American (0.2%), Native American (0.8%), or from other backgrounds. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Sundance was 47.5 years old. About 19.3% of residents were under 18. Also, 24% of the population was 65 or older. The town had slightly more females (50.9%) than males (49.1%).
Sundance Geography
Sundance covers a total area of about 3.06 square miles (7.93 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is covered by water.
The town is located just south of the Bear Lodge Mountains. These mountains are part of the Black Hills National Forest.
Views of Sundance
Sundance Climate and Weather
Sundance has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. It gets more rain and snow than nearby areas because it is located in the Black Hills.
| Climate data for Sundance, Wyoming (1991–2020 normals; extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
66 (19) |
77 (25) |
86 (30) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
105 (41) |
102 (39) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.4 (10.8) |
52.7 (11.5) |
65.9 (18.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
83.4 (28.6) |
91.1 (32.8) |
96.0 (35.6) |
94.4 (34.7) |
89.6 (32.0) |
78.5 (25.8) |
63.9 (17.7) |
52.1 (11.2) |
97.3 (36.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
34.1 (1.2) |
44.2 (6.8) |
52.2 (11.2) |
62.6 (17.0) |
73.1 (22.8) |
82.0 (27.8) |
80.8 (27.1) |
71.4 (21.9) |
55.8 (13.2) |
42.2 (5.7) |
32.5 (0.3) |
55.3 (12.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
33.2 (0.7) |
40.7 (4.8) |
50.9 (10.5) |
60.9 (16.1) |
68.7 (20.4) |
67.3 (19.6) |
58.1 (14.5) |
44.2 (6.8) |
32.1 (0.1) |
23.1 (−4.9) |
43.8 (6.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.2 (−10.4) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
22.2 (−5.4) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
39.2 (4.0) |
48.8 (9.3) |
55.5 (13.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
44.8 (7.1) |
32.6 (0.3) |
22.1 (−5.5) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
32.4 (0.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −10.3 (−23.5) |
−10.0 (−23.3) |
−1.0 (−18.3) |
12.7 (−10.7) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
37.0 (2.8) |
44.6 (7.0) |
41.9 (5.5) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
0.6 (−17.4) |
−9.3 (−22.9) |
−19.7 (−28.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −39 (−39) |
−42 (−41) |
−24 (−31) |
−11 (−24) |
7 (−14) |
25 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
30 (−1) |
6 (−14) |
−17 (−27) |
−23 (−31) |
−40 (−40) |
−42 (−41) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.82 (21) |
0.89 (23) |
1.04 (26) |
2.48 (63) |
3.47 (88) |
3.03 (77) |
2.48 (63) |
1.71 (43) |
1.32 (34) |
1.71 (43) |
0.91 (23) |
0.51 (13) |
20.37 (517) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.9 (33) |
14.7 (37) |
10.3 (26) |
13.2 (34) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
5.8 (15) |
9.8 (25) |
12.2 (31) |
81.3 (207) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 9.3 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 107.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.6 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 5.6 | 7.5 | 44.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Learning and Education
Students in Sundance attend public schools run by Crook County School District #1. Youngest students go to Sundance Elementary School, which teaches kindergarten through 6th grade. Older students attend Sundance Secondary School for grades 7 to 12.
Sundance also has a public library. It is a part of the Crook County Public Library system, offering books and resources for everyone.
Fun Places to Visit
One of the most exciting places near Sundance is Devils Tower National Monument. This amazing rock formation is like a giant, tall tower made of rock. It stands about 1,267 feet (386 meters) high.
Devils Tower is located north of Sundance. You can reach it by taking US-14 and Wyoming Highway 585. It rises dramatically from the ground, reaching 5,114 feet (1,559 meters) above sea level.
It was the very first U.S. National Monument. President Theodore Roosevelt made it a national monument on September 24, 1906. Today, about 400,000 people visit Devils Tower every year!
Roads and Highways
Several important roads connect Sundance to other places:
I-90
I-90 Bus. - (This road goes through the center of Sundance.)
US 14
WYO 585
Local News
Sundance has its own local newspaper called the Sundance Times. This newspaper shares news and stories about the town and its people.
See also
In Spanish: Sundance (Wyoming) para niños
