Wright, Wyoming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wright, Wyoming
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| Motto(s):
"Wright Time... Wright Community...Wright Now!"
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Location of Wright in Campbell County, Wyoming.
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 Wright, Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Campbell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.85 sq mi (7.39 km2) |
| • Land | 2.85 sq mi (7.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,122 ft (1,561 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,644 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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1,653 |
| • Density | 614.44/sq mi (237.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
82732
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| Area code(s) | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-85015 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1605008 |
| Website | Town of Wright Wyoming |
Wright is a small town located in Campbell County, Wyoming, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,644 people lived there.
Contents
History of Wright
Long ago, about 10,000 years ago, the first people arrived in this area. They came to hunt animals like buffalo and antelope on the wide-open plains. Later, the Sioux and Crow tribes used these lands for their hunting grounds.
In the 1880s, ranchers moved in. They brought their cattle and sheep to graze on the open land. After them came homesteaders, who were people looking for free land to settle and farm.
How Wright Began
Official settlement in the Wright area started in the early 1900s. However, the town really grew in the 1970s. This was thanks to the creation of the Black Thunder Coal Mine. This mine is the largest in the Powder River Basin and one of the most productive in the United States.
The Wright family settled here in 1911, and their homestead became the center of the community. Soon after, R. A. Wright opened the first Post Office in Wright. This helped deliver mail to all the ranchers living nearby. That's how the community got its name, Wright, Wyoming.
Growth and Development
In 1976, during a time of economic growth, the Black Thunder coal mine was developed. With many new workers, the town needed homes, schools, and other important services. The Atlantic Richfield coal company helped build the new community. They created housing and a company store for the residents.
The Town of Wright officially became a town in 1985. This makes it one of Wyoming's newer towns, but it still has a rich history. By 1990, Wright was a well-established place with 1,236 people living there.
On August 12, 2005, a strong tornado hit a mobile home park in Wright. It damaged many homes, and sadly, two people passed away. Around that time, some residents wanted to separate from Campbell County.
Geography of Wright
Wright is located in Campbell County. The town covers an area of about 2.85 square miles (7.39 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 1,236 | — | |
| 2000 | 1,347 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,807 | 34.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,644 | −9.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 1,653 | −8.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Every ten years, the United States counts its population in a census. This helps us understand how many people live in different places.
Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 1,807 people living in Wright. These people lived in 685 households, and 476 of those were families.
The average age of people in Wright was about 32.8 years old.
- About 30.5% of residents were under 18 years old.
- About 7.8% were between 18 and 24 years old.
- About 28.7% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 30.8% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- About 2.2% were 65 years or older.
More males lived in Wright than females in 2010. About 55% of the population was male, and 45% was female.
Education in Wright
Children in Wright attend public schools run by Campbell County School District #1.
The schools in Wright include:
- Cottonwood Elementary School for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
- Wright Junior/Senior High School [1] for students in 7th through 12th grade. The high school teams compete in 2A athletics in Wyoming.
Wright also has a public library. It is part of the Campbell County Public Library System, where you can borrow books and find information.
Economy of Wright
Wright was founded as a mining town, and mining is still very important to its economy. Most people who live in Wright work at the different mines nearby.
There's also a planned project called the Two Elk Energy Park. This power plant would be located a few miles from town. It is designed to burn "waste coal" from the local mines. Waste coal is a low-quality coal that can't be sold easily, so it would otherwise be reburied. There have also been ideas to use pine trees killed by beetles as fuel. So far, only a small building and part of a foundation are at the site. The project has been in the planning stages for over 16 years.
See also
In Spanish: Wright (Wyoming) para niños
