Wheatland Area Development Corporation
P.O. Box 988
Wheatland, WY 82201
Phone: 307.322.4232
E-mail: wadco@wyomingwireless.com
Web: http://wadco.org
Wheatland at town of more than 3,500 people in Southeast Wyoming offers many opportunities for business and recreation. The county seat and largest town in Platte County is set amid farms and ranches that are irrigated by the largest privately owned irrigation system in the country. Located along I-25, Wheatland is close to farms and ranches, mountains, plains, reservoirs and many historical and recreational sites.
A family-centered community now, as it was in the early years, Wheatland is primarily an agricultural community. In addition, Wheatland boasts a large, clean industrial plant and many small businesses. Along with its prime location along I-25, Wheatland has an airport just 1.5 miles east of town.
The Platte County Energy Park near Wheatland, Wyoming, offers sites in a 200 acre industrial park for commercial and industrial facilities. This unique industrial park offers vast amounts of low-grade heat, a by-product of nearby electrical generation, ideal for facilities requiring close-temperature control or a continuous source of inexpensive, reliable heat. Two pipelines and the vault for warm-water delivery systems are in place, and the park is ready for occupation.
The Laramie River Station power plant is located six miles northeast of Wheatland. LRS was constructed for a cost of $1.6 billion. It represents one of the largest consumer-owned regional joint power supply programs in the United States. Grayrocks Dam and Reservoir, located six miles east of the plant, supplies water for steam and cooling. Tours will be given by appointment.
For a community of this size, Wheatland is proud of the medical facilities at the Platte County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home.
Recreational opportunities abound, with outdoor activities at the top of the list. Fishermen can get to fishing sites located just a couple of minutes from town, either at Wheatland Reservoir, Grayrocks Reservoir, or the Laramie River. Other nearby attractions include Guernsey State Park, Glendo State Park and the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Glendo State Park is one of southern Wyoming’s most popular boating parks, offering visitors water-skiing, fishing and other water-based activities. Guernsey State Park has one of Wyoming’s most attractive reservoirs. Bluffs east of the park block the wind from the park area and leave the waters warm and inviting for swimmers and water skiers. The park also offers boating, camping, fishing, hiking, bird-watching and picnicking.
The Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site, just north of Wheatland, is one of the most visible remnants of the Oregon Trail, with tracks cut into solid rock. At the Register Cliff State Historic Site, emigrants who camped along the banks of the North Platte River and etched their names into the soft sandstone cliff.
Laramie Peak, west of Wheatland, is the highest point in the Laramie Mountains with an elevation of 10,272 feet. The peak offers a steep 4.8-mile trail to the top that is open to ATVs, horses, bicycles, and hikers.
Community Information
County |
Platte |
Population/County |
8,619 |
Population/City |
3,464 |
*Source: Department of A&I - July 2005 Estimate
Workforce
Labor Force in County |
3,774 |
| Employment in County |
3,565 |
Estimated County Unemployment Rate |
5.5% |
*Source: Wyoming Department of Employment - January 2007 Estimate
Taxes
Personal Income Tax Rate |
Zero |
Corporate Income Tax Rate |
Zero |
Sales Tax Rate |
5% |
*Source: Wyoming Department of Revenue - As of 4/1/07
Property Tax and Mill Levy
County Tax Rate |
12 |
City Tax Rate |
8 |
School District Tax Rate |
48.695 |
Community College |
- |
Special Districts |
5.318 |
Total Mill Levy |
74.013 |
*Source: Wyoming Taxpayers Association
*Mill levies are assessed on 9.5% of market value for commercial and residential and 11% on industrial property
*County mill levies may include general, airport, public health, fire, hospital, libraries, fair, recreation, museums, bonds and interest
*Special levies may include conservation, fire, hospital, recreation, cemetery, solid waste
Education
| Number of Elementary Schools |
4 |
| Number of Junior High/Middle Schools |
3 |
| Number of High Schools |
3 |
Total District Enrollment |
1,155 |
2004-2005 High School Graduates |
82 |
Graduation Rate |
84.536 |
Students per Teacher Ratio 2005 |
9.32:1 |
Average 2004-2005 ACT Scores |
21.8 |
Expenditures per ADM (Average Daily Membership) |
$10,586 |
| Platte County School District #1 |
|
*Source: Wyoming Department of Education
Nearby Colleges and Universities
| School |
City |
State |
Distance |
Enrollment |
| Eastern Wyoming College |
Torrington |
WY |
39.61 mi |
1,349 |
| University of Wyoming |
Laramie |
WY |
61.06 mi |
13,300 |
| Wyoming Technical Institute |
Laramie |
WY |
61.06 mi |
n/a |
| Laramie County Community College |
Cheyenne |
WY |
63.65 mi |
4,943 |
| Western Nebraska Community College |
Scottsbluff |
NE |
67.34 mi |
3,151 |
| Casper College |
Casper |
WY |
89.34 mi |
4,052 |
| Colorado State University |
Fort Collins |
CO |
101.83 mi |
25,000 |
| Chadron State College |
Chadron |
NE |
113.14 mi |
3,000 |
| University of Northern Colorado |
Greeley |
WY |
113.53 mi |
13,000 |
| University of Colorado - Boulder |
Boulder |
CO |
142.02 mi |
28,624 |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Golden |
CO |
159.66 mi |
3,900 |
Transportation:
Highways/Railways
Name of Interstate |
I-25 |
Proximity to Interstate Highway |
Less than a mile |
Name of Highway |
US 87 |
Proximity to Major Highways |
Less than a mile |
Name of Rail Service |
BNSF |
Proximity to Rail Service |
Less than a mile |
Air Travel
Distance to
Denver, Colorado |
170 Miles |
Billings, Montana |
388 Miles |
Salt Lake City, Utah |
655 Miles |
Boise, Idaho |
806 Miles |
Omaha, Nebraska |
573 Miles |
Rapid City, South Dakota |
275 Miles |
Freight Carriers
Number of Motor Freight Carriers |
4 |
Number of Parcel Providers |
4 |
Number of Rail Service Providers |
1 |
Utilities:
Electrical Provider
Company |
Town of Wheatland - Wheatland REA |
Average Commercial Rate/KWH (<25kva Investor Owned, <1000kva Coop) |
$0.0845 |
Average Industrial Rate/KWH (<25kva Investor Owned, <1000kva Coop) |
$0.0451 |
*Source: Wyoming Public Service Commission
Natural Gas
Company |
Kinder Morgan |
Average Commercial Cost/MCF |
$6.8936 |
Average Industrial Cost/MCF |
$5.5714 |
*Public Service Commission provided statewide averages
*Source: Wyoming Public Service Commission 2004 Rates
*Kinder Morgan Rates stated as Statewide Avg. rate per Wyoming PSC
Telecommunications
Telecommunication Providers |
Qwest |
Broadband Provider |
Qwest |
Water/Waste Services
Public or Private |
Rates/Other |
Water Source |
Ground |
Water Maximum Gallons Per Day |
2.5 mgm |
Water Peak Load Maximum Gallons Per Day |
- |
Sewer Type |
Lagoon |
Sewer Maximum Gallons Per Day |
300000-500000/day |
Solid Waste Disposal |
Public |
Real Estate
Single Family Residential - Average Appraised Value |
$84,300 |
New Residential Construction Permits in 2000 |
7 |
New Residential Construction Permits in 2001 |
10 |
New Residential Construction Permits in 2002 |
5 |
New Residential Construction Permits in 2003 |
4 |
New Residential Construction Permits in 2004 |
12 |
New Commercial Construction Permits in 2000 |
0 |
New Commercial Construction Permits in 2001 |
3 |
New Commercial Construction Permits in 2002 |
2 |
New Commercial Construction Permits in 2003 |
2 |
New Commercial Construction Permits in 2004 |
5 |
Occupancy Rate for Multi-Family Housing Units |
- |
Avg Rental Rate for 2-Bdrm 2-Bath Apartment |
$450 per month |
Major Employers
Incentives:
Hotels and Motels
Total Number of Rooms Available in Community |
483 |
Facilities in Community with Meeting Space |
6 |
Climatic Information
Average Number of Days of Sunshine |
192 |
Average High / Low Temperature for July |
89.4/55.9 |
Average High / Low Temperature for January |
40.8/17.0 |
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