Niobrara County, Wyoming

{{Short description|County in the United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Niobrara County | state = Wyoming | ex image = Stagecoach Museum Lusk WY.jpg | ex image size = 220px | ex image cap = Stagecoach Museum in Lusk | seal = | founded = February 21, 1911 (authorized) 1913 (organized) | seat wl = Lusk | largest city = Lusk | city type = town | area_total_sq_mi = 2628 | area_land_sq_mi = 2626 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.9 | area percentage = 0.07% | census yr = 2020 | pop = 2467 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 2341 {{loss}} | density_sq_mi = auto | web niobraracounty.org | time zone = Mountain | district = At-large | named for = Niobrara River |flag= }} thumb|right|250px|Niobrara County (WY) SR85 '''Niobrara County''' is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 2,467,<ref name="Census2020DP" /> making it the least populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat is Lusk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its eastern boundary abuts the west lines of the states of Nebraska and South Dakota.

==History== Niobrara County was created on February 21, 1911, of area annexed from Converse County. Its organization was established in 1913.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |editor-last=Long |editor-first=John H. |title=Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies |url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WY_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |access-date=August 19, 2015 |website=Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=The Newberry Library |archive-date=August 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803014725/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WY_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The county was named for the Niobrara River, which rises near Lusk.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Urbanek |first=Mae |title=Wyoming Place Names |publisher=Mountain Press Pub. Co. |year=1988 |isbn=0-87842-204-8 |location=Missoula MT}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2628|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2626|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.9|sqmi}} (0.07%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_56.txt |access-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

In comparison to the state of Rhode Island, the county has more than twice the land area, with approximately 1/500 of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Science for a changing world |url=https://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp |access-date=June 22, 2018 |website=www.usgs.gov |language=en}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Weston County – north *Custer County, South Dakota – northeast *Fall River County, South Dakota – east *Sioux County, Nebraska – southeast *Goshen County – south *Platte County – southwest *Converse County – west {{div col end}}

===Major highways=== * {{jct|state=WY|US|18}} * {{jct|state=WY|US|20}} * {{jct|state=WY|US|85}} * {{jct|state=WY|WY|270}} * {{jct|state=WY|WY|271}} * {{jct|state=WY|WY|272}} * {{jct|state=WY|WY|273}}

===National protected area=== *Thunder Basin National Grassland (part)

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1920 = 6321 | 1930 = 4723 | 1940 = 5988 | 1950 = 4701 | 1960 = 3750 | 1970 = 2924 | 1980 = 2924 | 1990 = 2499 | 2000 = 2407 | 2010 = 2484 | 2020 = 2467 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 2341 | estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/niobraracountywyoming/PST045224 |access-date=June 3, 2025 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> {{decrease}} | align = right | align-fn = center | footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=August 18, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 1870–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns |url=http://eadiv.state.wy.us/demog_data/pop2000/cntycity_hist.htm |access-date=January 25, 2014 |publisher=Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis}}</ref> 2010–2016<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/56/56027.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606214913/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/56/56027.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=January 25, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> }} thumb|right|250px|Niobrara County (WY) US85N

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,467. Of the residents, 17.6% were under the age of 18 and 25.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 79.1 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=county%3A027&in=state%3A56|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=2025-11-29|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=county%3A027&in=state%3A56|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=2025-11-29|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Niobrara County, Wyoming – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Niobrara County, Wyoming|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=050XX00US56027|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 9, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Niobrara County, Wyoming|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US56027|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 9, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref> !{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Niobrara County, Wyoming|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US56027|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 9, 2026|df=mdy }}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |White alone (NH) |2,337 |2,361 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,255 |97.09% |95.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |91.41% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |3 |4 |style='background: #ffffe6; |6 |0.12% |0.16% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |11 |20 |style='background: #ffffe6; |27 |0.46% |0.81% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.09% |- |Asian alone (NH) |2 |9 |style='background: #ffffe6; |12 |0.08% |0.36% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.49% |- |Pacific Islander alone (NH) |0 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |5 |0.00% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20% |- |Other race alone (NH) |1 |2 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.04% |0.08% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |17 |36 |style='background: #ffffe6; |86 |0.71% |1.45% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.49% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |36 |52 |style='background: #ffffe6; |76 |1.50% |2.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.08% |- |'''Total''' |'''2,407''' |'''2,484''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''2,467''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

There were 1,024 households in the county, of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 1,322 housing units, of which 22.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.9% were owner-occupied and 27.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 22.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census=== As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,484 people, 1,069 households, and 659 families in the county.<ref name="DC">{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US56027 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012719/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US56027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|0.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 1,338 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US56027 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183452/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US56027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population.<ref name=DC/> In terms of ancestry, 41.5% were German, 19.0% were English, 17.7% were Irish, 6.6% were Swedish, and 3.0% were American.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US56027 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015519/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US56027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of the 1,069 households, 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.71. The median age was 46.1 years.<ref name=DC/>

The median income for a household in the county was $45,813 and the median income for a family was $57,153. Males had a median income of $41,898 versus $30,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,885. About 6.3% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US56027 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010651/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US56027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

===2000 census=== As of the 2000 United States census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 2,407 people, 1,011 households, and 679 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|person |person|}}. There were 1,338 housing units at an average density of {{convert|0.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.05% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.1% were of German, 18.7% English, 11.2% Irish, and 5.7% American ancestry.

There were 1,011 households, out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81.

The county population contained 22.60% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,701, and the median income for a family was $33,714. Males had a median income of $25,909 versus $17,016 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,757. About 10.70% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

== Alleged broadcast signal intrusion == In 2006, a series of videos originating the now defunct video sharing site Google Video claimed to be of a broadcast signal intrusion which allegedly occurred in Niobrara County, commonly known online as ''The Wyoming Incident''. It is said that those who watched it would experience hallucinations and other such ailments due to a frequency that played throughout the broadcast. The videos were later revealed to be part of a larger alternate reality game (ARG) project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=View topic - Essential Reading: The Wyoming Incident |url=https://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php@p=1070044.html |access-date=2026-05-04 |website=forums.unfiction.com}}</ref>

==Communities== ===Towns=== *Lusk (county seat) *Manville *Van Tassell

===Census-designated place=== *Lance Creek

===Unincorporated communities=== * Keeline * Riverview

==Politics== Like almost all of Wyoming, Niobrara County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Niobrara County since Franklin D. Roosevelt beat Alf Landon in 1936 by thirty-eight votes, and none since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 has attained thirty percent of the county's vote. In 2024, it was the most Republican county in the most Republican state, backing Donald Trump by a more than eighty percent margin. {{PresHead|place=Niobrara County, Wyoming|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 5, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Republican|500|282|231|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|533|599|36|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|969|345|4|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|820|202|671|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,424|469|26|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|908|1,237|40|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,086|1,124|35|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,427|1,200|5|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,312|826|0|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|975|753|17|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,652|588|19|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,248|518|0|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,362|568|0|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,122|843|0|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,136|250|104|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,245|289|3|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,042|427|8|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,075|270|67|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,098|239|22|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|825|354|12|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|635|298|367|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|757|325|223|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|888|190|49|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,064|230|20|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,017|244|32|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,022|200|54|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,116|115|83|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,118|155|35|Wyoming}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,108|112|14|Wyoming}} {{PresFoot}}

The Wyoming Department of Corrections Wyoming Women's Center is located in Lusk.<ref>[http://doc.state.wy.us/doc/contactinstitutions.html Contact Institutions]. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref> The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.<ref>[http://doc.state.wy.us/about/index.html About the Department of Corrections]. Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref>

==Education== There is one school district, Niobrara County School District 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st56_wy/schooldistrict_maps/c56027_niobrara/DC20SD_C56027.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Niobrara County, WY|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-12-05}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st56_wy/schooldistrict_maps/c56027_niobrara/DC20SD_C56027_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Niobrara County, Wyoming |North = Weston County |Northeast = Custer County, South Dakota |East = Fall River County, South Dakota |Southeast = Sioux County, Nebraska |South = Goshen County |Southwest = Platte County |West = Converse County }}

{{Coord|43.05|-104.47|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WY_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Niobrara County, Wyoming Category:1913 establishments in Wyoming Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1913