|
Northwest Region
Leah Bruscino, Regional Director
Wyoming Business Council
143 S. Bent, Suite B
Powell, WY 82435
Phone: 307.754.5785
Northwest Region of Wyoming is composed of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie Counties. The Northwest Region encompasses the Big Horn Basin and is surrounded by the Big Horn Mountains on the east, the Absarokas to the west and the Owl Creek Mountains to the south. Park County provides the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park through the Shoshone Canyon. The world’s largest mineral hot springs are located in Hot Springs County. Encircled by mountains, the basin’s rolling hills provide excellent farmland.
The Northwest Region has a population of 49,925. The median age is 41.8 and 53.6 percent of the population has pursued education beyond high school. The median household income ranges from $32,109 in Hot Springs County to $38,487 in Park County. The household value is $70,551 in Big Horn County compared to $105,938 in Park County.
The major employer in the region is tourism and its support industries. The area leads the state in the production of sugar beets, barley and dry beans. Northwest Community College in Powell offers excellent individualized training for employers. Manufacturing represents 5.5 percent of the total employment.
Business and industrial parks are located in Washakie and Park Counties with land ready for development in Big Horn and Hot Springs Counties. Commercial air service is available in Worland and Cody with public airports in Greybull, Lovell and Powell. Major US Highways 14/16 and 20 crisscross the region.
The state parks and forests activities range from hiking, mountain activities, wildlife viewing and relaxing in a mineral-rich hot spring. Buffalo Bill Reservoir and Big Horn Lake offer an assortment of water sports and the area is well-known for its excellent golf courses. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is the largest museum in the state and houses the world’s most extensive collection of Western memorabilia. A variety of scenic byways cut through the region, making it an automobile-friendly place.
Demographics by County
County |
Park |
Big Horn |
Washakie |
Hot Springs |
| Total Population (2000) |
25,786 |
11,461 |
8,289 |
4,809 |
| Total Employment (2000) |
12,362 |
4,809 |
3,911 |
2,419 |
| Owner-Occupied (2000) |
7,363 |
3,219 |
2,396 |
1,441 |
| Renter-Occupied (2000) |
2,949 |
1,093 |
882 |
667 |
| Total Households (2000) |
10,312 |
4,312 |
3,278 |
2,106 |
| Pop/Sq. mi |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2.4 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate (2005) |
3.3 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
3.8 |
Population by County
County |
Park |
Big Horn |
Washakie |
Hot Springs |
| Population (1990) |
23,178 |
10,525 |
8,388 |
4,809 |
| Population (2000) |
25,786 |
11,461 |
8,289 |
4,882 |
| Projected population (2005) |
26,709 |
11,058 |
7,703 |
4,459 |
| Population per square mile (2000) |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2.4 |
| Population rank 2000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Population growth (1990-2000) |
11.3 |
8.9 |
-1.2 |
1.5 |
| Projected population growth (2005-2010) |
3.4 |
-3.2 |
-6.8 |
-8.4 |
| Median age (1990) |
34 |
38.7 |
34.6 |
38.6 |
| Median age (2000) |
39.8 |
38.7 |
39.5 |
44.3 |
| Projected Median age (2005) |
41.9 |
40 |
41.8 |
47.2 |
| 19 and under (1990) |
7,297 |
3,440 |
2,729 |
1,360 |
| 20 to 34 years (1990) |
4,700 |
1,644 |
1,519 |
781 |
| 35 to 54 years (1990) |
6,139 |
2,559 |
2,192 |
1,263 |
| 55 to 74 years (1990) |
3,701 |
2,003 |
1,458 |
969 |
| 75 years and older (1990) |
1,341 |
879 |
490 |
433 |
| 19 and under (2000) |
7,245 |
3,624 |
2,468 |
1,195 |
| 20 to 34 years (2000) |
3,923 |
1,597 |
1,147 |
582 |
| 35 to 54 years (2000) |
8,101 |
3,089 |
2,489 |
1,461 |
| 55 to 74 years (2000) |
4,724 |
2,186 |
1,554 |
1,159 |
| 75 years and older (2000) |
1,793 |
965 |
631 |
485 |
| 19 and under (2005) |
6,450 |
3,190 |
2,124 |
980 |
| 20 to 34 years (2005) |
4,833 |
1,772 |
1,125 |
599 |
| 35 to 54 years (2005) |
7,658 |
2,792 |
2,188 |
1,235 |
| 55 to 74 years (2005) |
5,741 |
2,366 |
1,639 |
1,154 |
| 75 years and older (2005) |
2,027 |
938 |
627 |
491 |
| Male (1990) |
11,382 |
5,252 |
4,213 |
2,367 |
| Female (1990) |
11,796 |
5,275 |
4,175 |
2,442 |
| Male (2000) |
12,562 |
5,735 |
4,123 |
2,348 |
| Female (2000) |
13,224 |
5,726 |
4,157 |
2,534 |
| Male (2005) |
13,025 |
5,580 |
3,821 |
2,156 |
| Female (2005) |
13,684 |
5,478 |
3,882 |
2,303 |
| White (1990) |
22,580 |
10,209 |
7,864 |
4,661 |
| Black (1990) |
19 |
2 |
14 |
14 |
| Hispanic origin (1990) |
825 |
551 |
801 |
67 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (1990) |
106 |
24 |
41 |
2 |
| American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut (1990) |
130 |
58 |
59 |
102 |
| White (2000) |
24,872 |
10,777 |
7,478 |
4,685 |
| Black (2000) |
23 |
13 |
9 |
17 |
| Hispanic origin (2000) |
959 |
707 |
951 |
116 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (2000) |
127 |
32 |
61 |
12 |
| American Indian, Eskimo or Aleut (2000) |
122 |
86 |
46 |
74 |
| White (2005) |
25,758 |
10,395 |
6,945 |
4,278 |
| Black (2005) |
24 |
13 |
8 |
16 |
| Hispanic origin (2005) |
950 |
785 |
993 |
105 |
| Asian or Pacific Islander (2005) |
131 |
31 |
57 |
11 |
| American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut (2005) |
127 |
83 |
43 |
68 |
| Percent non-white (2000) |
3.5 |
6 |
9.8 |
4 |
| Net domestic migration (1990-2000) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Median household income (1990) |
26,082 |
21,494 |
25,431 |
24,536 |
| Median household income (2000) |
35,994 |
32,727 |
34,977 |
29,829 |
| Median household income (2005) |
39,188 |
35,194 |
38,114 |
32,955 |
| Median household income growth (1990-2000) |
38 |
52.3 |
37.5 |
21.6 |
| Median household income growth (2005-2010) |
11.8 |
7.6 |
11.2 |
5.3 |
| Percent median household income <$35,000 (2000) |
50 |
54 |
50.1 |
55.4 |
| Percent median household income >$75,000 (2000) |
13.44 |
9.8 |
14.7 |
11.9 |
| Per capita personal income (1990): |
12,027 |
9,636 |
11,340 |
11,631 |
| Per capita personal income (2000): |
17,769 |
14,997 |
17,720 |
16,492 |
| Per capita personal income (2005): |
19,979 |
17,628 |
20,915 |
20,386 |
| Per capita personal income percent change (1990-2000) |
47.8 |
55.6 |
56.3 |
41.8 |
| Per capita personal income percent change (2005-2010) |
13.6 |
14.5 |
21.4 |
17 |
Unemployment Rate by County
County |
Park |
Big Horn |
Washakie |
Hot Springs |
| Labor Force |
13,031 |
5,148 |
4,265 |
2,464 |
| Total Employment |
12,362 |
4,809 |
3,911 |
2,419 |
| Unemployed |
653 |
326 |
354 |
45 |
| Unemployment Rate (2005) |
3.3 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
3.8 |
Other Resources
|
