Shoshoni, Wyoming

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Shoshoni, Wyoming
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Shoshoni, Wyoming


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wyoming
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Fremont

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 8.6
area_land_km2 = 8.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.3
area_land_sq_mi = 3.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 635
population_density_km2 = 74.2
population_density_sq_mi = 192.1

timezone = Mountain (MST)
utc_offset = -7
timezone_DST = MDT
utc_offset_DST = -6
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1476
elevation_ft = 4843
latd = 43 |latm = 14 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 108 |longm = 6 |longs = 52 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 82649
area_code = 307
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 56-70570GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1594295GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Shoshoni is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 635 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the Shoshone tribe of Native Americans, most of whom live on the nearby Wind River Indian Reservation. Although the word is generally spelled 'Shoshone', it is pronounced phonetically as 'Shoshoni'.

Geography

Shoshoni is located at coor dms|43|14|25|N|108|6|52|W|city (43.240161, -108.114540)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.6 km²), all of it land.

It has a continentally arid desert climate and is, some years, the driest town in the entire Mountain Time Zone; occasionally it receives less than 4 inches of rainfall annually.

History

Established as a railroad and mining town, Shoshoni lies at the intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 26, which together were formerly known as the "Yellowstone Highway." Shoshoni experiences a sharp visitation peak in the summer, when roads to Yellowstone National Park are open. Visitors also stop to camp and fish at nearby Boysen Reservoir and the surrounding Boysen State Park. Anglers participate in fishing derbies at the reservoir, including an ice fishing derby in the winter.

Ranching is, and has been for decades, the major agricultural endeavor in the nearby area.

A water-intensive mushroom processing plant began operation within town limits in 2004. At first it was staffed by prison labor, who were paid minimum wage. Later, it was staffed by migrant labor from Guatemala, which stopped when a Department of Homeland Security investigation revealed that some of the workers had problems with their immigration histories. [ [http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/08/19/news/wyoming/e77d36ffe07bd68f87257339007e0a6e.txt Mushroom farm reopens] , "Casper Star-Tribune", 2007-08-17. Accessed 2008-08-14.] The plant emitted odors into the town during periods when it was operating, resulting in complaints from residents, which led to an investigation by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and reassurances from plant staff that the problem had been, or would be, corrected. [ [http://www.trib.com/articles/2005/07/27/news/wyoming/06569dbd72d9d6508725704a008295cb.txt Mushroom farm tries to cap odor] , "Casper Star Tribune", 2005-07-27. Accessed 2008-08-14] [ [http://www.trib.com/articles/2006/01/25/news/wyoming/4b3318d4950b582887257100000411d2.txt Mushroom farm aims to fix odor problem] , "Casper Star Tribune", 2006-01-24, Accessed 2008-08-14]

Charles Henry King, a prominent millionaire businessman and banker later based in Omaha, Nebraska, built the C.H. King Company and First Union Bank Building, formerly occupied by Yellowstone Drug Store. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. King and his wife Martha were the paternal grandparents of President Gerald Ford, who was born in their Omaha house in July 1913.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 635 people, 246 households, and 171 families residing in the town. The population density was 192.1 people per square mile (74.1/km²). There were 322 housing units at an average density of 97.4/sq mi (37.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.39% White, 0.16% African American, 1.26% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.94% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.94% of the population.

There were 246 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $37,045. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $14,479 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,584. About 7.1% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable native

*Isabel Jewell-Actress.

References

External links