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East Central Region
Steve Elledge, Regional Director
Wyoming Business Council
300 S. Wolcott, Suite 300
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: 307.577.6012
Platte, Niobrara, Converse and Natrona Counties make up the East Central Region. Rolling plains dominate the region, broken up by the Laramie Mountain Range and Casper Mountain. The North Platte River winds through the grasslands and grazing territory of three of the four counties. Oregon Trail historic sites are scattered throughout the region.
The East Central Region has a population of 91,941. The median age is 38.3 and 55.3 percent of the population has education beyond high school. The median household income ranges from $31,081 in Niobrara County to $43,284 in Converse County. The household value is $66,751 in Niobrara County compared to $81, 973 in Converse County.
In addition to its highly developed communications infrastructure, the region has over 1,000 acres of prime business property ready for manufacturing, distribution, professional, technical and retail. Casper, Wyoming’s second largest city, ranked first among Forbes’ 2004 “Best Small Places” for doing business. Casper maintains a quality college while Douglas and Casper offer training facilities for area employers.
Natrona, Platte and Converse Counties have business and industrial parks. The entire region is wired with high-speed fiber optics. Casper offers commercial air service with direct service to Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis via United, Delta and Northwest Airlines. Douglas, Lusk and Wheatland have public airports. Interstate 25 runs through Platte, Converse and Natrona Counties.
Casper offers a variety of shopping opportunities while Casper Mountain and Alcova Reservoir provide a multitude of winter and summer activities nearby. The communities within the region provide a range of opportunities from theatre, golfing, skiing and greenways to quality indoor recreational facilities. Locals and visitors also enjoy picnicking, camping and water sports at the Glendo, Guernsey and Pathfinder reservoirs. The Casper Events Center brings in a variety of entertainment ranging from music concerts to sports events.
Demographics by County
County |
Natrona |
Converse |
Niobrara |
Platte |
| Total Population (2000) |
66,533 |
12,052 |
2,407 |
8,807 |
| Total Employment (2000) |
33,211 |
5,954 |
1,149 |
4,348 |
| Owner-Occupied (2000) |
18,740 |
3,475 |
737 |
2,755 |
| Renter-Occupied (2000) |
8,079 |
1,219 |
274 |
870 |
| Total Households (2000) |
26,819 |
4,694 |
1,011 |
3,625 |
| Pop/Sq. mi |
12.4 |
2.8 |
0.9 |
4.2 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate (2005) |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
4.3 |
Population by County
County |
Natrona |
Converse |
Niobrara |
Platte |
| Population (1990) |
61,226 |
11,127 |
2,499 |
8,146 |
| Population (2000) |
66,533 |
12,052 |
2,407 |
8,807 |
| Projected population (2005) |
69,348 |
12,451 |
2,170 |
8,590 |
| Population per square mile (2000) |
12.4 |
2.8 |
0.9 |
4.2 |
| Population rank 2000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Population growth (1990-2000) |
8.7 |
8.3 |
-3.9 |
8.1 |
| Projected population growth (2005-2010) |
4 |
2.7 |
- 9.3 |
-1.9 |
| Median age (1990) |
32.9 |
32 |
38.5 |
36.4 |
| Median age (2000) |
36.3 |
37.4 |
42.5 |
41.2 |
| Projected Median age (2005) |
33.6 |
42 |
44 |
42.8 |
| 19 and under (1990) |
19,605 |
3503 |
655 |
2,521 |
| 20 to 34 years (1990) |
|
2,226 |
459 |
1361 |
| 35 to 54 years (1990) |
16,233 |
3,053 |
630 |
2,238 |
| 55 to 74 years (1990) |
9,533 |
1,491 |
523 |
1,439 |
| 75 years and older (1990) |
2,364 |
999 |
232 |
583 |
| 19 and under (2000) |
19,555 |
3,728 |
602 |
2,449 |
| 20 to 34 years (2000) |
12,497 |
1,877 |
314 |
1,203 |
| 35 to 54 years (2000) |
20,323 |
4,005 |
745 |
2,685 |
| 55 to 74 years (2000) |
10,453 |
1,900 |
542 |
1,763 |
| 75 years and older (2000) |
3,705 |
542 |
204 |
707 |
| 19 and under (2005) |
18,812 |
3,395 |
477 |
2,084 |
| 20 to 34 years (2005) |
13,997 |
2,161 |
292 |
1,371 |
| 35 to 54 years (2005) |
19,891 |
3,846 |
666 |
2,438 |
| 55 to 74 years (2005) |
12,356 |
2,368 |
537 |
1,970 |
| 75 years and older (2005) |
4,292 |
681 |
207 |
727 |
| Male (1990) |
30,053 |
5,447 |
1,151 |
4,030 |
| Female (1990) |
31,173 |
5,680 |
1,348 |
4,116 |
| Male (2000) |
32,872 |
6,007 |
1,174 |
4,346 |
| Female (2000) |
33,661 |
6,045 |
1,233 |
4,461 |
| Male (2005) |
34,503 |
6,151 |
1,087 |
4,246 |
| Female (2005) |
34,845 |
6,300 |
1,083 |
4,344 |
| White (1990) |
59,324 |
10,716 |
2,449 |
8,057 |
| Black (1990) |
458 |
15 |
8 |
5 |
| Hispanic origin (1990) |
2,252 |
565 |
36 |
404 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (1990) |
280 |
33 |
3 |
10 |
| American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut (1990) |
404 |
102 |
20 |
24 |
| White (2000) |
62,644 |
11,416 |
2,360 |
8,471 |
| Black (2000) |
505 |
18 |
3 |
14 |
| Hispanic origin (2000) |
3,257 |
660 |
36 |
465 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (2000) |
302 |
35 |
3 |
17 |
| American Indian, Eskimo or Aleut (2000) |
686 |
110 |
12 |
44 |
| White (2005) |
65,282 |
11,791 |
2,127 |
8,260 |
| Black (2005) |
521 |
18 |
3 |
14 |
| Hispanic origin (2005) |
34,043 |
708 |
36 |
481 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (2005) |
314 |
36 |
3 |
17 |
| American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut (2005) |
719 |
114 |
11 |
44 |
| Percent non-white (2000) |
5.8 |
5.3 |
0 |
3.8 |
| Net domestic migration (1990-2000) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Median household income (1990) |
27,708 |
27,676 |
21,202 |
21,746 |
| Median household income (2000) |
36,745 |
39,579 |
29,680 |
33,966 |
| Median household income (2005) |
40,268 |
43,762 |
31,667 |
37,431 |
| Median household income growth (1990-2000) |
32.6 |
43 |
40 |
56.2 |
| Median household income growth (2005-2010) |
12.3 |
11.9 |
8.4 |
9.2 |
| Percent median household income <$35,000 (2000) |
47.6 |
43.6 |
61.5 |
51.6 |
| Percent median household income >$75,000 (2000) |
14.9 |
14.6 |
10.6 |
12.6 |
| Per capita personal income (1990): |
12,092 |
11,641 |
11,526 |
10,573 |
| Per capita personal income (2000): |
18,751 |
18,374 |
15,612 |
17,441 |
| Per capita personal income (2005): |
19,985 |
20,949 |
18,370 |
20,145 |
| Per capita personal income percent change (1990-2000) |
45.1 |
57.8 |
35.5 |
65 |
| Per capita personal income percent change (2005-2010) |
10.3 |
11.4 |
19 |
14.7 |
Unemployment Rate by County
County |
Natrona |
Converse |
Niobrara |
Platte |
| Labor Force |
35,080 |
6,248 |
1,189 |
4,554 |
| Total Employment |
33,211 |
5,954 |
1,149 |
4,348 |
| Unemployed |
1,812 |
289 |
40 |
196 |
| Unemployment Rate (2005) |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
4.3 |
Other Resources
For additional Wyoming demographic information, visit the State of Wyoming Department of Administration & Information Economic Analysis Division. |
