Albany County, Wyoming

Coordinates: 41°39′N 105°44′W / 41.65°N 105.74°W / 41.65; -105.74
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Albany County
Albany County Courthouse
Albany County Courthouse
Flag of Albany County
Map of Wyoming highlighting Albany County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°39′N 105°44′W / 41.65°N 105.74°W / 41.65; -105.74
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedDecember 16, 1868
Named forAlbany, New York
SeatLaramie
Largest cityLaramie
Area
 • Total4,309 sq mi (11,160 km2)
 • Land4,274 sq mi (11,070 km2)
 • Water35 sq mi (90 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total37,066
 • Density8.6/sq mi (3.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.co.albany.wy.us

Albany County (/ˈɔːlbəni/ AWL-bə-nee) is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 37,066.[1] Its county seat is Laramie,[2] the site of the University of Wyoming. Its south border lies on the northern Colorado state line.

Albany County comprises the Laramie, WY Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is the fifth-most populous county in Wyoming.

History[edit]

Albany County was organized in 1868 of territory annexed from Laramie County in Dakota Territory, which at the time had jurisdiction over part of modern-day Wyoming.[3] It became a county in Wyoming Territory when its government was formally organized on May 19, 1869.[4][5]

Charles D. Bradley, a member of the legislature of the Dakota Territory named the county for Albany, New York, the capital of his native state.[6] In 1875, the Wyoming Territorial legislature authorized portions of Albany County to be annexed to create Crook and Johnson counties, and in 1888 land was taken from Albany County for the creation of Converse County. Further adjustments were made to the county's boundary in 1911 and 1955.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,309 square miles (11,160 km2), of which 4,274 square miles (11,070 km2) is land and 35 square miles (91 km2) (0.8%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Transit[edit]

Major highways[edit]

National protected areas[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18702,021
18804,626128.9%
18908,86591.6%
190013,08447.6%
191011,574−11.5%
19209,283−19.8%
193012,04129.7%
194013,94615.8%
195019,05536.6%
196021,29011.7%
197026,43124.1%
198029,06210.0%
199030,7976.0%
200032,0144.0%
201036,29913.4%
202037,0662.1%
2023 (est.)38,257[8]3.2%
US Decennial Census[9]
1870–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]
Morton Pass (SR34)

2000 census[edit]

At the 2000 United States Census,[11] there were 32,014 people, 13,269 households and 7,006 families in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 15,215 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.32% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.65% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. 7.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.4% were of German, 11.1% English, 10.2% Irish and 6.1% American ancestry.

There were 13,269 households, of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.

The county population contained 18.4% of the population under the age of 18, 28.2% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.4 males.

The median household income was $28,790 and the median family income was $44,334. Males had a median income of $31,087 compared with $22,061 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,706. About 10.8% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 36,299 people, 15,691 households, and 7,430 families in the county.[12] The population density was 8.5 people per square mile (3.3 people/km2). There were 17,939 housing units at an average density of 4.2 units per square mile (1.6 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% white, 2.8% Asian, 1.2% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 31.2% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 12.5% were English, and 4.4% were American.[14]

Of the 15,691 households, 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 52.6% were non-families, and 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 26.8 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,890 and the median income for a family was $70,054. Males had a median income of $43,484 versus $33,512 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,622. About 7.2% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Communities[edit]

Lincoln Monument near Laramie

City[edit]

Town[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Politics[edit]

While Wyoming as a whole tends to be solidly Republican, Albany County is a swing county. It is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.[a]

Its competitiveness is because the core of its seat, Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming, is solidly Democratic and the Laramie suburbs and the county's rural precincts are solidly Republican. The core of Laramie forms roughly half of the county's population. Meanwhile, the Laramie suburbs and the rural precincts of the county form the other approximate half. Thus, swing voters typically determine the county's winner.

United States presidential election results for Albany County, Wyoming[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,579 46.08% 9,092 48.84% 946 5.08%
2016 7,602 44.56% 6,890 40.39% 2,568 15.05%
2012 7,866 48.26% 7,458 45.75% 976 5.99%
2008 7,936 46.36% 8,644 50.50% 537 3.14%
2004 9,006 54.17% 7,117 42.81% 501 3.01%
2000 7,814 55.22% 5,069 35.82% 1,268 8.96%
1996 5,967 42.82% 6,399 45.92% 1,570 11.27%
1992 4,176 32.46% 5,713 44.40% 2,978 23.14%
1988 5,653 49.87% 5,486 48.40% 196 1.73%
1984 7,452 60.36% 4,708 38.13% 186 1.51%
1980 5,830 50.58% 3,772 32.72% 1,925 16.70%
1976 6,734 57.94% 4,663 40.12% 225 1.94%
1972 7,021 58.92% 4,873 40.89% 23 0.19%
1968 4,422 48.71% 4,079 44.93% 578 6.37%
1964 2,923 32.69% 6,019 67.31% 0 0.00%
1960 4,356 50.43% 4,282 49.57% 0 0.00%
1956 4,315 55.88% 3,407 44.12% 0 0.00%
1952 4,560 59.59% 3,082 40.28% 10 0.13%
1948 2,858 47.28% 3,141 51.96% 46 0.76%
1944 2,970 47.91% 3,229 52.09% 0 0.00%
1940 2,756 40.51% 4,018 59.05% 30 0.44%
1936 1,777 32.08% 3,685 66.53% 77 1.39%
1932 2,281 43.13% 2,665 50.39% 343 6.49%
1928 2,941 64.13% 1,618 35.28% 27 0.59%
1924 2,164 47.72% 743 16.38% 1,628 35.90%
1920 1,769 59.16% 1,145 38.29% 76 2.54%
1916 1,313 43.84% 1,571 52.45% 111 3.71%
1912 882 32.75% 1,044 38.77% 767 28.48%
1908 1,335 49.74% 1,152 42.92% 197 7.34%
1904 1,674 63.41% 706 26.74% 260 9.85%
1900 1,540 60.61% 1,001 39.39% 0 0.00%
1896 1,220 52.70% 1,073 46.35% 22 0.95%
1892 1,100 49.48% 0 0.00% 1,123 50.52%

Education[edit]

There are one school district in Albany County: Albany County School District 1.[17]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ General Laws and Memorials and Resolutions of the Territory of Dakota, 1869 at Google Books
  4. ^ Long, John H. (2006). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  5. ^ Long, John H. (2006). "Dakota Territory, South Dakota, and North Dakota: Individual County Chronologies". Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Publishing Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Albany County, WY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list

41°39′N 105°44′W / 41.65°N 105.74°W / 41.65; -105.74