Sundance, Wyoming facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sundance, Wyoming Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí
Town
Location in Crook County and the state of Wyoming.
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 (0.03 km2)
Elevation	4,738 ft (1,444 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,182
• Estimate  (2012)	1,213
• Density	387.5/sq mi (149.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	82729
Area code(s)	307
FIPS code	56-74195
GNIS feature ID	1603438

Sundance (Lakota: Owíwaŋyaŋg Wačhí; "Sun-Watching Dance") is a town in and the county seat of Crook County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,182 at the 2010 census. The town is named for the Sun Dance ceremony practiced by several Native American Indian tribes.

Sundance in popular culture

After his release from the town jail in 1888, Harry Longabaugh, an outlaw and member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch in the American Old West, acquired the moniker, "the Sundance Kid". His nickname entered the popular culture with release of the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which won several Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay. Robert Redford, who portrayed Longabaugh in the movie, later named his Sundance Ski Resort near Provo, Utah, and the Sundance Film Festival after this character.

The town of Sundance is the primary setting of Scumble, a children's novel by Ingrid Law, and a sequel to her earlier children's book, Savvy. Sundance, Wyoming is also the primary setting for Lorelei James' novels in her "Rough Riders" series of 16 books involving the fictional McKay family, eking out a living as multi generational ranchers and the younger generation's accepting who they are individually, the ins and outs of working with family every day and finding love.

Demographics

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% Est. 2015 1,272 7.6% 1890-2010 census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,182 people, 532 households, and 326 families residing in the town. The population density was 387.5 inhabitants per square mile (149.6/km²). There were 606 housing units at an average density of 198.7 per square mile (76.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 532 households of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.7% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the town was 47.5 years. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

The Sundance State Bank Building on Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,161 people, 476 households, and 318 families residing in the town. The population density was 582.2 people per square mile (225.3/km²). There were 545 housing units at an average density of 273.3 per square mile (105.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 1.64% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 476 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,029, and the median income for a family was $50,598. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,300. About 3.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Geography and climate

Sundance is located at 44°24′19″N 104°22′20″W (44.405230, -104.372131).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.06 square miles (7.93 km²), of which, 3.05 square miles (7.90 km²) of it is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

The town is directly south of the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills National Forest.

Sundance experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with higher precipitation than the semi-arid regions surrounding it due to its location in the Black Hills.

Climate data for Sundance, Wyoming
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	65 (18.3)	66 (18.9)	77 (25)	84 (28.9)	101 (38.3)	101 (38.3)	105 (40.6)	101 (38.3)	99 (37.2)	89 (31.7)	77 (25)	65 (18.3)	105 (40.6)
Average high °F (°C)	30.8 (-0.67)	35.7 (2.06)	44.5 (6.94)	54.5 (12.5)	65.5 (18.61)	76.6 (24.78)	84.5 (29.17)	83.2 (28.44)	72.2 (22.33)	59.6 (15.33)	41.8 (5.44)	32.8 (0.44)	56.81 (13.782)
Daily mean °F (°C)	19.1 (-7.17)	24.1 (-4.39)	32.6 (0.33)	42.1 (5.61)	52.4 (11.33)	62.4 (16.89)	69.2 (20.67)	68.0 (20)	57.3 (14.06)	45.6 (7.56)	30.3 (-0.94)	21.5 (-5.83)	43.72 (6.509)
Average low °F (°C)	7.3 (-13.72)	12.5 (-10.83)	20.7 (-6.28)	29.6 (-1.33)	39.2 (4)	48.2 (9)	53.9 (12.17)	52.7 (11.5)	42.3 (5.72)	31.6 (-0.22)	18.8 (-7.33)	10.1 (-12.17)	30.58 (-0.792)
Record low °F (°C)	−39 (-39.4)	−42 (-41.1)	−24 (-31.1)	−11 (-23.9)	−28 (-33.3)	25 (-3.9)	30 (-1.1)	31 (-0.6)	0 (-17.8)	−17 (-27.2)	−23 (-30.6)	−40 (-40)	−42 (-41.1)
Precipitation inches (mm)	0.69 (17.5)	0.68 (17.3)	0.97 (24.6)	2.29 (58.2)	2.76 (70.1)	3.07 (78)	2.13 (54.1)	1.65 (41.9)	1.31 (33.3)	1.56 (39.6)	0.94 (23.9)	0.73 (18.5)	18.78 (477)
Source #1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)
Source #2: The Weather Channel (Records)

Area attractions

Devils Tower National Monument
near Sundance, Wyo.

Devils Tower National Monument, a 1,267-feet high (386 m) igneous rock intrusion or laccolith in the Bear Lodge Mountains, is a short drive north of Sundance via US 14 and Wyo. State Route 585. It rises dramatically above the surrounding terrain, with its summit 5,114 feet (1,559 m) above sea level. It was the first United States National Monument, established on September 24, 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt. It has approximately 400,000 visitors annually.

Highways

• I-90
• I-90 Bus. - Alternate I-90 Business Loop (via Cleveland St. through central Sundance business district.)
• US 14
• WYO 585