Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 18,708 at the 2000 census. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 37,975.

One of the worst race riots in American history, known as the Rock Springs Massacre, occurred among miners working near Rock Springs on September 2, 1885. As of 2006, there are still remains of the old coal mining towns outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Rock Springs is also home to Western Wyoming Community College, and Wyoming's Big Show a yearly event featuring a carnival and concerts, held at the Sweetwater County Events Complex.

Rock Springs is located in an energy-rich region that boasts a large number of oil and natural gas wells.

Geography

Rock Springs is located at (41.585106, -109.221392).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.45 square miles (47.87 km²), all of it land.

The city is approximately 6759 feet (2060 m) above sea level.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,708 people, 7,348 households, and 4,930 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.4 people per square mile (391.7/km²). There were 8,359 housing units at an average density of 453.3/sq mi (175.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.75% White, 1.07% African American, 0.86% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.05% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.

There were 7,348 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,584, and the median income for a family was $51,539. Males had a median income of $44,809 versus $22,609 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,396. About 6.4% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate Highways:

I-80

• East-West Interstate running from California to New York. Intersects US 191 northeast of Rock Springs.

US Routes:

US 30 (Dewar Drive)

• East-West route through Rock Springs and business route

US 191

• North-South through Rock Springs that intersects I-80

Wyoming State Highways:

WYO 370 (Baxter Road/Airport Road)

• From Interstate 80 and U.S. 30 Exit 111 southeast to the Rock Springs Regional Airport. Signed only as "Airport Road" from the Interstate, with one sign indicating "Baxter Road."

WYO 376 (Circumferential Highway/Rock Springs Beltway)

• Belt route around Rock Springs, splitting from and then meeting again with Business I-80 through Rock Springs

WYO 430 (Hampshire Street Parkway)

• Stretch of road running south to the Colorado-Wyoming State Line near Hiawatha Camp, Colorado. The route continues south as an unimproved highway all the way to Colorado 318 near Dinosaur National Monument.

Airports

Rock Springs is serviced by Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport.

Railroads

Union Pacific serves Rock Springs

Sister cities

Rock Springs' sister cities are:

• :
  • Green River, Wyoming
• :
  • Škofja Loka, Slovenia

Notable residents

• Adam Archuleta, safety for the Chicago Bears
• Ed Cantrell, accused of shooting an undercover officer from the Rock Springs Police Department
• Mickey Daniels, actor who appeared in many movies in the 1930s
• Boyd Dowler, wide receiver for Green Bay Packers (1959-69) and Washington Redskins (1971)
• Richard Honaker, a Rock Springs attorney and former Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
• Florabel Muir, former American syndicated newspaper columnist and reporter
• Abby Norman, Miss Wyoming USA winner of 2004 and represented Wyoming in 2005 Miss USA pageant
• Charles E. Richardson, former publisher of the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner newspaper
• Teno Roncalio, Democratic politician from Wyoming who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967 and again from 1971 until 1978
• John Wendling, special teams player for the Buffalo Bills

Media

The Rock Springs areas is served by four newspapers: Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, The Mustang Express, formerly The Oracle (Western Wyoming Community College newspaper), The Marquee (a media and entertainment supplement published in the Rocket-Miner), The Green River Star (a weekly newspaper published in Green River), and The Sweetwater County Guide (a weekly shopper's guide published by The Green River Star.)

Radio

Rock Springs is serviced by a number of radio stations. These include: KRKK, KSIT, KQSW, KMRZ, KYCS, KZWB, KFRZ, and KUGR.

Television

Rock Springs has a translator of KGWC, titled KGWR on channel 13. KGWC is a CBS affiliate out of Casper, Wyoming. There are a couple of local access stations as well.

Entertainment

Every year during July and August, the city holds a county fair called Wyoming's Big Show. The event includes theme park rides, booths, restaurants, and live entertainment. Rodeos have been a staple of the fair, and famous performers are sometimes a part of the entertainment.

References

1. Sweetwater Events Complex Website

External links

• City of Rock Springs
• Rock Springs Photos (from Wyoming Tales and Trails)
• Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner
• Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Community Fine Arts Center