Natrona County
Profile
by Bill Nelson, Susan Stanton,
Betsy O’Neil & Jennifer Beckstead
April 2013
Natrona County Public Library System
Table of Contents
Page
Preface .......................................................................................................................... 2
History of Natrona County ........................................................................................... 3
History of Library Service in Natrona County ............................................................. 9
Services at the Natrona County Public Library ........................................................ 12
Geography and Transportation ................................................................................. 15
Civic Issues ................................................................................................................. 17
Demographics ............................................................................................................ 19
Business ..................................................................................................................... 24
Education .................................................................................................................... 31
Social Services ............................................................................................................ 34
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 36
Library Service Recommendations .......................................................................... 39
Sources ....................................................................................................................... 41
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Preface
In 2013, the Natrona County Public Library updated its profile of the County in order to tailor the
collections and services to the needs and interests of our community. In preparing this profile,
library employees researched the community and library history, interviewed key community
members regarding current issues, and gathered demographic data as well as other objective
information about transportation, business, education, and social services. On the basis of this
information, the staff developed a series of recommendations to help direct the Natrona County
Public Library in providing the best possible library services to our patrons.
The first Natrona County Profile was created by the Natrona County Public Library in 1999.
Previous versions were published in 2003, 2005 and 2009.
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History of Natrona County
Wyoming’s plains are the historical home to many nomadic tribes including the Cheyenne, Arapaho,
Shoshone and Sioux. Today, about 12,500 Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho continue to
reside on the 2.3 million acre Wind River Reservation, northwest of Natrona County.
In 1812, John Jacob Astor established Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia and sent Robert Stuart
east to start what was hoped to become a network of trading posts. Stuart found South Pass by
following a Crow Indian trail and entered our region. Near Bessemer Bend, Stuart and his small
band erected the first white man’s hut in 1812. Although Astor’s plans failed when the British
captured Astoria in 1812, trappers and scouts continued to explore our high plains and develop
transit routes. On July 4, 1824, some of these trappers named Independence Rock.
In 1840, Father Jean Pierre DeSmet began spreading the gospel among area Indians. Father
DeSmet was the first to carve his name on Independence Rock and give it the name, “The Register
of the Desert.” In 1843, John C. Fremont (known as “The Pathfinder”) chiseled his name on
Independence Rock and later with Kit Carson as his guide, went on to explore the country along the
Platte and Sweetwater Rivers.
Trails & Emigrants
Economic depressions in 1837 and 1841 frustrated farmers and businessmen east of the
Mississippi. The collapse of the international fur trade in 1839 intensified the hard times. These
economic concerns and fear of British domination of the Oregon territory became catalysts for
people to relocate to the Oregon Territory. Consequently, the primitive trails that early trappers,
explorers and missionaries forged came to serve over 200,000 pioneers bound for California,
50,000 bound for Oregon, and 70,000 Mormons headed for Utah. Casper was the northernmost
point on their respective treks and was the point at which they abandoned the North Platte River
that had guided them through Nebraska and much of Wyoming. West of current-day Casper,
pioneers reached the Sweetwater River and followed it as they continued their westward journey.
Between 1847 and 1855, the Mormons, on their way from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Great Salt Lake
passed through the area. Brigham Young established “Mormon’s Ferry” that served a number of
emigrants, including many “49ers” bound for California’s gold fields. In 1852, John Richard and his
three brothers built a bridge three miles downstream from the Mormon Ferry. Richards (Reshaw)
Bridge was 835 feet long. It cost $5.00 for a team and wagon to cross, plus $1.00 for each person
and each animal. The price to cross the bridge changed depending on the water level and flow.
The first military units in Natrona County were stationed near the Richard (Reshaw) Bridge in late
1855.
Hostilities between Indians and settlers were few along the trail until 1855. In 1858-59, U.S. soldiers
had to be dispatched to the region during what was called the “Mormon War.” Shortly thereafter, the
first permanent settlement along the river was established, when Louis Guinard built a bridge and
trading post in 1859, near the original site of the Mormon Ferry. Guinard’s post later became an
overnight stage stop, a Pony Express relay station, and a Pacific Telegraph Office then known as
Platte Bridge Station.
In 1861, a volunteer cavalry company was ordered to Guinard’s Bridge to guard against Indian
raids, which were becoming more frequent. Between 1862 and 1865, Platte Bridge Station was
outfitted as a one-company military post. In July 1865, the Sioux and Cheyenne, under Red Cloud,
outraged by the Chivington Massacre at Sand Creek in Colorado, resolved to eliminate Platte
Bridge Station. In the ensuing Battle of Platte Bridge Station, Lieutenant Caspar Collins, (son of
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Col. William Collins for whom Ft. Collins, CO is named) lost his life. Later that year, the Army
changed the outpost’s name from Platte Bridge Station to Fort Caspar, to honor the fallen
lieutenant. Fort Caspar became the headquarters for soldiers escorting wagon trains on the
Oregon Trail until it was abandoned in 1867. (When the name of Fort Caspar was recorded in
1865, a frontier Army clerk mistakenly changed the “a” to an “e”. The error was corrected in 1936
when the fort was rebuilt.)
Early Natrona County
Five counties were organized into the Territory of Wyoming by legislation in November 1869. The
area that was to become Natrona County was part of Carbon County at that time. As lands were
opened to settlement under the Free Homestead Act, signed by President Lincoln in 1862,
hundreds moved into the area. In the early 1870s, cattle companies financed in the East and the
British Isles saw the opportunities for quick profits. By the 1880s the local ranges were dominated
by great cattle companies (e.g., Searight’s Goose Egg Ranch– ten miles west of Casper, “CY” – the
Carey Ranch where Casper now stands, VR – on Deer Creek near present day Glenrock, and
Fiddleback – near present day Douglas). The Goose Egg house, now demolished, was celebrated
in Owen Wister’s novel “The Virginian”, as the place where babies were exchanged at the dances.
“The Virginian” was the prototype of “Western” novels.
On June 8, 1888, John Merritt and C.W. Eads established the town of Casper at the intersection of
McKinley and A Street. One week later, on June 15, 1888, Casper’s 100 residents celebrated the
arrival of the first passenger train (the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad) connecting
Casper with the East. Since railroads were the most dependable connection to civilization, rural
communities like Casper grew around these early train stations. Casper was incorporated on June
5, 1889. George Mitchell was elected Mayor on July 8, 1889.
By the close of the 1880s, private land owners became sufficiently established to largely supplant
the bigger cattle companies, though it took the 1892 Johnson County invasion of “nesters” to
convince everyone that small stockmen were here to stay. During the years in which railroads were
being constructed, pioneering stockmen were introducing to the area what was soon to become the
County’s major industry, sheep. In 1888, the first band of sheep, numbering 3,000, was trailed into
the County.
The area’s first newspaper was the Casper Weekly Mail, established in November of 1888 and ran
until 1891. In 1889 a small school was started with funds subscribed by patrons. Then, on April 8,
1890, Natrona County was officially established. The town of Bessemer challenged Casper for
designation as the County seat, but lost the ensuing fraud-ridden election. The County was first
managed from offices above a saloon and court was held at the Town Hall. Early courthouses were
built in 1895 and 1909. Finally, in 1939, the current County Courthouse was constructed.
The first electric lights were installed in 1900 and the first telephone in 1902. In 1912-13, the
Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad laid tracks and established train service from Casper to
Billings, making shipping and travel easier.
Oil and Gas
The most important aspect of the area’s history was the discovery and development of oil.
Although the explorer Captain Bonneville first recorded the presence of “tar springs” in 1832, it
wasn’t until the 1870s that oil prospecting began in Natrona County. In 1883 the first claims on land
in the Salt Creek. Cy Iba discovered crude oil on his land in 1887. The first drilling was recorded in
1888, about 3 miles northwest of Casper. Beginning in 1889, oil from the Salt Creek field was
hauled to Casper by teams of horses hitched to wagons. By 1894-95, Casper boasted its first
refinery, which produced 100 barrels of refined oil daily.
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By 1920, three oil refineries were operating in the Casper area, and the nearby Teapot Dome oil
field became the focus of a national scandal. The Teapot Dome Reserve, one of the largest known
light oil fields at the time, had been established in 1914 and named after a nearby rock formation.
The Teapot Dome scandal of 1921 embroiled President Harding’s administration. The Secretary of
the Navy transferred control of the reserve to the Secretary of the Interior, who leased it to private
oil operators in exchange for interest-free “loans.” The Secretary of the Interior ultimately was fined
and imprisoned and the U.S. Supreme Court restored the fields to the federal government in 1927.
During this period, Casper grew to be the hub of the oil and gas industry for the Rocky Mountain
region. By 1922, the Standard Refinery was the largest plant of its kind in the world, producing
615,000 barrels of gasoline per month. Casper and the small oilfield settlements of Lavoye, Salt
Creek, Midwest, Teapot, Edgerton, and Snyder were boomtowns, where money flowed like gushers
and fortunes were made and lost overnight. Roughnecks, truckers, refinery workers, and railroad
employees poured into town along with bunko artists, underworld characters, ladies of the evening,
and oilfield drifters. Many of the latter established an underworld element along the North Platte in
an area called “The Sand Bar.”
During the 1920s, Wyoming raised more sheep than any other state and Natrona County was home
to some of the nation’s top wool producers. The Depression hit Casper hard. But WPA civil works
programs put more than 400 Casper men to work on area projects including the NCHS stadium,
Casper Mountain Road, Fort Caspar’s restoration, and many area roads. During World War II, an
Army Air Corps training field was constructed that later became our current airport. An earlier
airfield is now the site of the community of Bar Nunn.
In 1948, oil wells in the Lost Soldier field of Sweetwater County brought another boom. By the
1960s, nearly every major oil company had established exploratory offices in Casper. Standard
Oil’s complex processed some 50,000 barrels of crude daily. Four interstate pipelines originated in
or passed through Casper, and three of Wyoming’s nine refineries were located in the County.
Uranium discoveries northeast of Casper, near Pumpkin Buttes, led to the development of 5
uranium processing plants. Then, as oil prices dipped in 1964, Shell, Pan American, and Sinclair
Oil relocated to Denver. Confirming the bust, Mobil announced that it would also close its local
refinery.
A mid-1970s economic boom brought another population influx to Casper and generated
considerable new housing starts. 1980 began as a promising year with 150 deep hole-drilling rigs
working in Wyoming. Casper’s city budget was $55.1 M, however, a new “bust” was around the
corner. In 1981, oversupply coupled with the rising cost of crude produced more oil than buyers.
The city lost close to 5,000 residents between 1982 and 1983 as more large refiners, such as
Texaco closed their operations. Impact on supply and service companies exacerbated the situation
and the “bottom of the bust” occurred around 1986, when crude prices plummeted 50% in response
to increased Saudi Arabian production. Since then, Casper has attempted to diversify its economy
and its population has steadily grown.
An example of Casper’s recent civic “can do” attitude is the successful conversion of the former
Standard Oil refinery, which closed in 1991 after 77 years of operation. In 2002, Casper and BP
Amoco signed an agreement by which, in exchange for BP Amoco’s cleaning up its former refinery
site and Soda Lake area to a “brownfields” standard rather than a residential standard, the city
would receive $28 million over ten years for commercial and recreational projects.
In January 2002, BP and the State of Wyoming signed a Remedy Agreement detailing the cleanup
plans for the properties. By 2005, the brownfield development transformed the former refinery into
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350 acres of business park and recreational property, a 250-acre industrial park and a 2,000 acre
wildlife refuge. The whole site is known as the Platte River Commons. A central feature is the
Three Crowns Golf Course. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is built atop
the ongoing remediation project.
In 2004, Casper was selected as a 50th Anniversary Sportstown by “Sports Illustrated Magazine”
and the National Recreation and Park Association. Decisions were based on criteria that
demonstrate the community's involvement in facilitating and enhancing quality sports.
Oil production in the state of Wyoming has been on decline since the 1960s, although in 2006 and
2007 Wyoming did see a slight increase for two main reasons. First the associated liquid
production from the two large gas discoveries at Jonah and Pinedale, and second increased
production from enhanced oil recovery projects like Anadarko's carbon dioxide (CO2) flood project
at Salt Creek.
On the other hand, natural gas production for the state has been on a constant rise since the
1970s. In the past decade gas production has nearly doubled. The State produced nearly 2.2 TCF
of gas in 2008. This ramp up of gas production has been fueled by 4 major contributors. First and
second are the Jonah and Pinedale developments. Third is the Green River Basin tight gas sand
development. Last is coal bed methane production in the Powder River Basin north of Casper.
By 2008, steadily climbing gas and coal production yielded a $1 billion Wyoming budget surplus.
Coal sold for $13 per ton. Oil prices climbed to over $120 per barrel in Wyoming. Natural gas sold
for slightly over $10.00 per thousand cubic feet, and uranium yellowcake became commercially
viable exceeding $50 per pound.
In the fall of 2008 all of these commodity prices saw a marked decrease. With the national
economy’s unemployment rate hovering at about 8% in late 2012, Casper is fending better with just
4.8% unemployed. Oil and gas activity in the state and region has slowed and will affect the local
economy, but few see a "bust" on the horizon. As the largest exporter of energy in the nation,
Wyoming will continue to play an important role in this industry.
Wind farm development and other alternative energy efforts are becoming more common in
Wyoming. Many parts of the state have excellent wind resources including the southeastern, southcentral, and northeastern regions. Chevron Global Power Co. built an 11-turbine wind farm on the
Texaco property near Evansville north of the North Platte River. It was the first commercial wind
farm in Natrona County.
----------------------Several area residents have gained national recognition. Former Vice President Richard Cheney
and his wife, Lynne, grew up in Casper. NBC news correspondent Pete Williams is a Casper native.
Mike Sullivan, former Ambassador to Ireland and former Governor, resides here. Former
Ambassador to Guatemala Thomas Stroock resided in Casper until his death in 2009. Senator
John Barasso practiced medicine in Casper. Former Senator Craig Thomas resided in Casper with
his wife, Susan. Father and son, Neil (deceased 2012) and Mick McMurry, construction and energy
entrepreneurs live here. The True family, long-time petroleum operators reside in Casper. Edness
Kimball Wilkins and Verda James both served as Speakers of the Wyoming House, the only two
women to hold that office. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning played youth baseball here, as
did Colorado Rockies Mike Lansing and LA Dodger Mike Devereaux. Sharon Brondos, a Harlequin
novelist, lives in Casper. C.J. Box, best-selling author of fiction books based around Wyoming,
grew up in Casper. Zachary Pullen, children’s book author and illustrator lives in Casper. Author
Ron Franscell grew up in Casper and has written several books based in the area. The Casper
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Troopers, a well-known precision marching drum and bugle corps, has performed throughout the
nation.
Towns of Edgerton & Midwest
Midwest and Edgerton lie 40 miles north of Casper. Stockmen in the 1800s used oil found in the
vicinity’s creek bottoms for ointments. Although claims were first made in 1883, the first strike did
not occur until 1908.
One challenge for the oil industry was transporting oil to the refineries. At first, oil was taken in
tanker wagons pulled by string teams. Wagons were a slow way to move oil, so in 1911 the
Midwest Oil Company built a pipeline from their oil field in Salt Creek to the Casper Refinery.
The pipeline was 43 miles long. Companies began using trucks to carry supplies to the oil fields.
Soon the Salt Creek Highway was built between Casper and Salt Creek. In 1923, a railroad
connected Casper with Salt Creek. Supplies could then be transported even faster.
The town of Midwest grew with the Salt Creek Oil Field and was originally a tent city called Home
Camp. Home Camp was a Midwest Oil Company town where families could be raised. In 1924,
Home Camp was renamed Midwest and ultimately incorporated in 1975. Salt Creek is also known
as one of the first “unitized oil fields” in the nation, where one company operates the properties for
all owners thereby increasing production efficiencies. Edgerton, located one-mile east, was
founded in 1923 and incorporated in 1925. In recent years the two towns joined in mutual
agreement to bring drinking water from the North Platte River, thereby solving a long-term
community concern.
In 1925, the Midwest High School football team played an evening game under electric lights. It
was the first lighted football game west of the Mississippi River.
In 2004, Anadarko Petroleum initiated the first phase of a $200 million carbon dioxide (CO2)
enhanced oil recovery project. Anadarko uses Wyoming-produced CO2 to flood the 100-year old
Salt Creek field and gradually increased production to nearly 30,000 barrels per day by 2008.
Production could continue 10 to 20 years to sweep an additional 150 million barrels of oil from the
Salt Creek Field. The Salt Creek field is one of the largest CO2 oil recovery and geologicalsequestration projects of its kind in the world. The project currently sequesters enough CO2 each
day to offset the equivalent emissions of more than 500,000 cars.
Town of Mills
Mills was originally a boomtown that sprang up in 1919 following construction of the Midwest
Refining Company, located across the North Platte River. The Mills Construction Company bought
the entire section for the purpose of mining gravel with which to construct roads and tank bunkers.
Company employees purchased lots and built makeshift houses. The town was mostly comprised
of tar paper shacks, with one block of permanent houses, a hotel, and an amusement park. By
1921, the town had 1,000 residents and was officially incorporated. When the refinery construction
was complete and the Depression began, Mills nearly became a ghost town. The Mills Hotel, when
demolished in 1931, was described as follows: “It started out in resplendent fashion, a smart hotel
hurriedly erected to care for the hordes in pursuit of their fortune. It ran the gamut of open handed
patronage, gamblers, surging throngs, beautiful women – a slice as it were, of the frenzied boom
period, becoming in later years, its feathers bedraggled, a speakeasy, dancing hall, gambling den.
Then oblivion.” Mills benefited from a healthy local economy in the 1950s and the construction of a
bridge connecting with the Fort Caspar area made transportation easier. The 1970s boom and mid1980s bust affected Mills, as it did the rest of Natrona County. Mills is currently benefiting from
renewed economic activity, as well as the rest of the state of Wyoming.
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--------------Several organizations are working to preserve the area’s history. They include the Natrona County
Historical Society, the Oregon-California Trails Association, National Historic Trails Interpretive
Center, the Fort Caspar Museum Association, the Natrona County, Casper, and Mills Preservation
Commissions, and the Casper College Western History Center.
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History of Library Service in Natrona County
The Natrona County Public Library System traces its origins to a reading room established and
operated by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union in 1902. A Library Association was
organized on November 3, 1903 and this organization secured a $10,000 grant from philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie to construct a library. C.A. Randall designed the building and Charles Galusha
was awarded the $10,375 construction contract. After two years, the library was still incomplete and
funds were depleted. Carnegie agreed to donate another $3,000, however, after spending that
amount the building still remained unfinished. The Town Council presented the building and the
city-owned property – now the corner of Second and Durbin Streets – to Natrona County. The
County assumed responsibility for the library on November 3, 1909 and the white-domed Carnegie
Library opened to the public on May 20, 1910. About 300 people attended the opening reception
and dance.
By 1919 there were 850 books on the shelves and 200 borrowers. In the mid-1920s an addition to
the back of the original Carnegie building provided a Durbin Street entrance and more than doubled
the library’s capacity. In 1929, the library was designated a Selective Depository for government
documents in the Federal Depository Library Program.
In August 1950, a $260,000 library expansion bond was passed and in January 1954, a 7,548
square-foot addition to the east was opened. The Library’s nine employees circulated 138,283
books to 5,658 borrowers. Casper’s population was then 23,673.
In 1956, the first bookmobile began operation in a converted grocery delivery truck. In 1967,
Natrona County’s population was 56,000, library cards numbered 18,328, circulation hit 247,601
and the library held 67,812 books and 203 magazines. The Friends of the Library was established
in 1967 to help pass a library bond. The Friends held their first annual used book sale in 1972,
which, since its inception, has raised over $1 million to supplement the library’s budget.
In 1967, a bond issue was proposed to purchase additional land, raze the original Carnegie building
and the neighboring American Legion building, purchase a bookmobile (a converted school bus),
and improve the Midwest-Edgerton Branch Library. The bond failed by 349 votes, but backers led
by board member Jim Crawford persevered and in August of 1969, a $1.2 million bond passed. In
providing the new structure, the original Carnegie and the 1920s addition were demolished. The
resulting main library remodel was dedicated in 1972 with a week long celebration. Area businesses
and residents commissioned the 16-foot bronze sculpture of Prometheus to be set in front of the
curving window wall in the outdoor plaza. Prometheus is sited close to where the original Carnegie
building’s front doors once faced Second Street. The Crawford Room is named after long time
Library Board member Jim Crawford who served 1946-1957 and 1965-1971.
Under head librarian Ken Dowlin, the first venture in the nation between a public library and a cable
television company went into operation.
The Natrona County Public Library Foundation was incorporated in 1972 to aid the library in
securing money for library capital improvements and for financial support of the general library
program. It is a public foundation and exempt from Federal income tax under IRS Code 501(c) 3.
The Foundation and Trustees were originally an inter-locking Board. In 2000, the Foundation’s
Articles of Incorporation were amended to create an independent organization. In 2008, the
Foundation's endowment to support NCPL operations exceeded $1 million.
In 1993, NCPL became the nation’s 75th Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL), which it
remained until February 2001, when the depository was moved to the State Library.
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In September 1995, the current Children’s Room, funded primarily by optional one-cent sales tax
money, was opened.
The present facility consists of two wings, the east wing that opened in 1954 as an addition to the
Carnegie building, and the main wing, built in 1972, replacing the Carnegie Library entirely. Total
area is 32,680 square feet. A renovation of public spaces was completed in 1998.
Several renovations were completed in 2004-2005. A new library parking lot was completed using
One Cent #12 funds. Two new services, a Teen Zone and a Tech Center were completed using
combined public and private funding.
In 2006, the Library completed its strategic plan which identified a need to investigate options for an
expanded facility. A Facility Needs Assessment found that the current building is on a per capita
basis just one-third the size of the average Wyoming library. The current library has a lack of
sufficient parking and needs more space for an expanded children’s department, additional public
program rooms, and a larger Tech Center.
In 2008, a $43.25 million temporary one-cent sales tax was put before voters on the ballot to build a
new library. The referendum failed with 15,578 (48%) votes “For” and 17,132 (52%) votes “Against”.
A dramatic downturn in the national economy in October 2008 contributed to this outcome. After
this first election loss the NCPL Foundation purchased 5.4 acres for the new library site with private
funds. In 2012, a temporary one-cent sales tax was again put before voters with the referendum
failing with 15,664 (49%) votes “For” and 16,252 (51%) votes “Against”.
Bookmobile
In 1971, a converted bus christened the “Reading Roustabout” replaced the grocery truck becoming
the library’s second bookmobile. In 1981, a bookmobile was purchased with $50,000 of One-Cent
Optional Sales Tax dollars. “Big Blue” was replaced in the summer of 2004 with a new bookmobile,
purchased with One Cent #12 funds.
Edgerton Branch
The first record of a library in northern Natrona County was the Midwest Traveling Library
established by the Midwest Oil Company in 1921. Books were packed in cases, each holding 50
books. In 1930, a free library for all residents was established on the second floor of the Midwest
Refining Company clubhouse in Midwest. The library held 1,500 books and 29 magazines. The
current Edgerton Library was built in 1971. In 1978, the library board named the facility the Mark J.
Davis Jr. Memorial Branch Library. Mr. Davis had been an active member of the library board until
his death. He was a grandson of “Hardwinter” Davis of western lore.
Mills Branch
The Mills Library, located next to the Town Hall began operations in June of 1987. The facility, built
in 1982, had originally been used as a carpenter’s shop and police office. Volunteers converted the
building and operated it as an independent Mills community library for over a decade. A Friends of
the Library group was formed in 1989. In 1996, they provided an addition, increasing the building’s
size to 1,200 sf. In 1998, the library became a branch of the Natrona County Public Library System
with reimbursable funding provided by the Town of Mills. In 2003, the Mills Town Council renamed
the facility the Bob Goff Memorial Library. In 2005, the facility received a 1,400sf expansion and a
new operating agreement was established between the NCPL Library Board and the Town of Mills.
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1910 – 1919
1919 – 1927
1927 – 1928
1928 – 1937
1937 – 1943
1943 – 1957
1957 – 1969
NCPL
Sarah Place
Mrs. Effie C. Rogers
Elva Randa
Eleanor Davis
Genevra Brock
Margaret Burke
LaFrances Sullivan
Librarians
1969 – 1975
1975 – 1979
1979 – 1980
1981 – 1986
1986 – 1992
1993 – 1999
1999 –
Kenneth Dowlin
John Peters
Mr. B. M. Desai
Frank Schepis
Janus Olsen
Lesley Boughton
Bill Nelson
NCPL 100th Anniversary
The Library celebrated its 100th anniversary celebration in May 2010. Walter Jones was
commissioned to write a history of NCPL in conjunction with this celebration. The title of the book is
A Window to the World: The First 100 Years of the Natrona County Public Library.
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Library Services at the Natrona County Public Library
The Natrona County Public Library provides service to an area corresponding with County
boundaries, an area of 5,342 square miles. In 2011-12, the Library housed a collection of 231,656
items: 17,785 videos and DVDs, 20,266 sound recordings (audiobooks and music CDs), and 3,136
magazine issues. It subscribes to about 200 newspapers and periodicals.
The Main Library is open 64 hours a week, seven days a week during the school year, and 52
hours a week, six days a week in the summer. Hours of operation during the school year are
Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The library is open Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. September through May. During the summer the
library closes at 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is closed on Sundays.
The Mills Branch is open 32 hours each week. Its hours of operation are Monday through
Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. - 5 p.m. Friday. The M. J. Davis Branch, located in
Edgerton, is open 18 hours per week, Monday and Friday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday
1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The bookmobile operates 32 hours weekly on a two-week rotating schedule
serving schools, preschools, day cares, assisted living centers, and various neighborhoods of
Natrona County including Casper, Evansville, Powder River, Alcova, and outlying Mills.
The Library System in 2011/12 employed 26 full-time and 18 part-time staff for a total FTE of 34.5.
Full time positions include:
 8 Librarians (Director, Public Services Librarian, Technical Services Coordinator, 3 Reference
Librarians, 1 Youth Services Coordinator, 1 Teen Librarian).
 6 administrative positions (Business Manager, Community Relations Coordinator and 4
Maintenance)
 1 bookmobile driver, 2 part-time branch managers and 2 substitute branch workers
 1 Reference Assistant
 5 Circulation staff and 3 part-time employees
 4 Youth Services staff (1.5 FTE funded by NCSD’s Discover Program)
 2 Technical Services (cataloger and ILL) and 5 part-time employees (book processors)
Patrons and Programs
As of June 2011, NCPL served 44,547 registered patrons. This represents about 11% of the public
library patrons registered in the statewide Wyoming Libraries Database (WYLD) system and 58% of
Natrona County’s population. NCPL is a member of WYLD; a shared automated library network
owned by 111 member libraries (public, school, academic, and special) that allows patrons to use
local library cards statewide. Wyoming citizens share resources by common access to the
statewide catalog of almost 3 million titles owned by public libraries. The WYLD network currently
uses SirsiDynix software.
In 2011-2012, the library provided a total of 576 programs with a total attendance of 15,555
children, young adults, and adults. 3,902 children and teens participated in the Summer Reading
Program, and hundreds of people received training in how to use the Internet, e-mail, and library
magazine databases.
The bookmobile visits 28 childcare facilities and 26 other stops monthly.
In 2011-2012, the library handled approximately 33,800 reference transactions at the Main Library.
Librarians taught 77 computer classes with 556 people.
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The Natrona County Public Library has been a Federal Depository Library since 1929. The library
has an excellent collection of earth science and petroleum materials. A Wyoming Collection
features works about local and western history and works by Wyoming authors.
The Natrona County Public Library serves 27 public elementary schools through school visits,
library tours, and reference service. The library additionally serves 6 middle/junior high schools, and
4 high schools, with library tours and reference service. In 2011-12, 264 students (from 134
families) were receiving home based instruction. The library strives to support these
homeschooling families with materials and programs.
Librarians are active in several community partnerships which address the enduring community
issues of substance abuse prevention, workforce development, and service to an aging population.
These include the Literacy Volunteers of Casper, Senior Network, Adult Protection Committee, City
of Casper Baby Boomer Study Committee, Natrona County Prevention Coalition, Meth and
Substance Abuse Conference Committee, and Family and Parenting Subcommittee.
The annual Wyoming Reads Celebration is held on a day in May every year at the Nicolaysen Art
Museum and the Natrona County Public Library. During this celebration of literacy, all Natrona
County first graders receive a hardback book of their choice, courtesy of the Sue Jorgensen Library
Foundation. Another literacy program called “We Read” is a partnership between the Natrona
County School District, the Casper Star-Tribune, and the Natrona County Public Library. The
purpose of We Read is to promote literacy as a community value, encourage families to read
together at home, and increase children's access to high-quality books. Students in kindergarten
through third grade receive a free children's book each month and every week the Casper StarTribune publishes a special "My Trib" section that includes literacy activities for families to do
together.
Circulation
In 2011-12, the Natrona County Main Library System charged and renewed 620,196 items. Of the
620,196 items that were circulated, the item type breakout is as follows: 306,546 books (turnover
rate of 2.8), 193,263 videos and DVDs (turnover rate of 10.9), 41,672 audiobooks (turnover rate of
3.3), and 9,063 magazines (turnover rate of 2.9). In addition, patrons borrowed 5,160 interlibrary
loan items. The Children’s Department circulated 21% of the charged items. MJ Davis and Mills
Branches circulated 11,864 and 17,448 items, respectively. The bookmobile circulated 37,478
items, 62% of them juvenile works.
Electronic Resources
In addition to the NCPL homepage on the Internet (www.natronacountylibrary.org), the Main Library
has nine online public access catalogs and 24 Internet terminals available to the public. Standalone PCs include: 6 for children’s, 6 for young adults, and 2 children’s activity terminals. Staff
terminals include: 31 WYLD circulation and cataloging terminals, and 11 PCs. The library also has
two copier machines available for public use.
The WYLD system also provides access to online resources including many linked to full text
articles. EBSCOHost and Gale databases include general, business, health, and educational
articles from thousands of magazines and periodicals. The SIRS Researcher, targeted for
secondary school users, provides access to articles from newspapers, magazines and government
documents. eLibrary and eLibrary Elementary provide access to full-text articles as well as
thousands of maps, images and weblinks. CQ Researcher offers in-depth coverage of political and
social issues. Britannica Online offers a comprehensive, easily-searchable online general
encyclopedia. Novelist and Novelist K-8 provide an online reader’s advisory. HeritageQuest and
Ancestry Library offer access to genealogical databases. Chilton Library provides extensive car-
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
13
repair information dating back to 1940. Learning Express Library is an online test preparation
database with practice tests and tutorial courses. Mango Languages is an online language learning
system that teaches ESL and 45 different foreign languages through interactive lessons.
Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks are available with the 3M Cloud Library and OneClick
Digital services. And Zinio is a database of over 150 eMagazines available for checkout. NCPL
partnered with Niobrara and Platte County Libraries in 2011 to provide over 2,000 popular fiction
and nonfiction eBook titles through the Virtual Library, powered by Overdrive.
NCPL provides online databases to Natrona County citizens including Alldata, Foundation Directory
Online, Morningstar Investment Research and the Value Line Investment Survey.
Governance
A five-member Board of Trustees appointed by the County Commission governs the library.
Trustees are limited to two 3-year terms but may be re-appointed after a 2-year absence. The
responsibilities of the board are established in Wyoming Statutes.
The library receives county tax revenues and optional One-Cent sales tax revenues to support its
operations. Other income is generated from reimbursable work for NCSD #1 and fines and fees.
The operating budget for 2011-12 was $2,630,559. About $15,000 from the Friends of the Library
book sale and $50,000 from the Library Foundation supplemented the annual budget. In the
November 2010 election, voters approved Optional One-Cent #14 sales tax that will be used to
provide $1,545,000 during the four years FY12 through FY15 ($245,000 for equipment and
$1,300,000 for the collection).
Collection Budget
Since 2000, most of the collection budget has been funded by the Optional One-Cent tax approved
by voters. The collection and NCPL's service to patrons would be jeopardized should the Optional
One-Cent fail in the future. Annual collection expenditures in FY12 were $417,810, almost 700%
more than the $59,973 spent in 1998, when NCPL was one of the least funded libraries in the
nation. With this increase, per capita collection expenditure has increased from $0.88 in FY98 to
$5.54 in FY12. In comparison, the Wyoming per capita average for collection expenditures in FY12
was $4.82.
Library Visits per Capita
Circulation per Capita
Collection Size per Capita
Collection Turnover
FTEs per 1,000 Population
Natrona County
Public Library
5.1
9.0
3.0
3.8
0.46
Average for Large*
WY Public Libraries
6.1
8.6
4.4
2.0
0.80
NCPL compared with
peer WY libraries
-20%
+4%
-47%
+50%
-74%
Source: Wyoming State Library, Wyoming Public Library Statistics, FY12
* Libraries serving populations greater than 25,000 (Sheridan, Park, Albany, Campbell, Fremont,
Sweetwater, Natrona, and Laramie)
FTE= Full-Time Equivalent employees
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
14
Geography and Transportation
Geography
Located in Wyoming’s central plateau, Natrona County was named for the natural deposits of
natrum or carbonate of soda found in the area. Its borders form an almost perfect square and
contain 5,342 square miles. Within its borders are the municipalities of Casper, Midwest, Edgerton,
Mills, Evansville, and Bar Nunn. Casper is the second largest metropolitan area in Wyoming.
The primary geographic features in Natrona County are the Big Horn Mountains in the County’s
northwest corner, the Rattlesnake Hills in the southwest corner, and the Deer Creek and Laramie
Ranges in the southeast corner. Elevations range from roughly 5,000 feet (Casper 5,122 feet) to
over 8,000 feet (Casper Mountain-Tower Hill 8,100 feet).
There are three principal drainage basins: Wind River, Powder River, and the North Platte River.
The North Platte River flows east across the County’s southeast corner. The Bureau of
Reclamation controls the North Platte River System, which covers three states and seven dams,
from its office in Mills. Two of these reservoirs, Pathfinder and Alcova, are located in the County’s
southern region. At the time of its completion in 1909, Pathfinder Reservoir was the largest manmade reservoir in the nation.
Water quality in Natrona County is a complex and critical issue. Most of the water supply is “hard”
and contains calcium, sodium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, and magnesium. Much of the County’s
vegetation is low-water, high plains desert species. Grasses provide the primary cover. Annual
average rainfall and snowfall are 11.9 inches and 77.1 inches respectively. Average prevailing
winds are southwesterly at 12.9 mph.
Natrona County consists of 3,434,089 acres. Public land comprises 1,885,493 acres (55%) of which
the Bureau of Land Management controls 1,449,800 acres (42%) and the State of Wyoming
389,955 acres (11%). Most private land is located in the greater Casper area.
Area landmarks include: Casper Mountain which rises to 8,100 feet, Independence Rock, Fort
Caspar, the Five Trails Historic Center, the Central Wyoming Fairground, Casper Events Center,
Alcova and Pathfinder Reservoirs, and Casper College. Hell’s Half-acre is a depression with
unusual geologic formations. Other County landmarks of western lore are Hole-in-the-Wall and
Devil’s Gate. The Mormon Pioneer Handcart Visitors Center is located just west of Devil’s Gate.
Transportation
Strategically located along the Rocky Mountains and the North Platte River, this region has been
used by Plains Indians, trappers, explorers, pioneers, and modern travelers as a transportation
corridor. Approximately 50 motor carriers serve the area. Interstate-25 handles the most traffic with
over 20,000 vehicles per day. Other major highways include U.S. Routes 20, 26 and 87; and
Wyoming State routes 220 and 254.
One freight railroad, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), serves the area. Black Hills Stage
Lines provides commercial bus transportation north to Billings and south to Denver.
The Casper/Natrona County International Airport is the largest airport in Wyoming. Its two runways
are 10,165 and 8,679 feet long. The airport operates Foreign Trade Zone #157 and is the only U.S.
Customs Service Port in Wyoming. Three commercial air commuters (Delta Connect Skywest,
United Express (Skywest Airlines) and Allegiant Airlines) serve the area.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
15
A bicycle-walking-running pathway has been created by a local non-profit organization. The Platte
River Parkway’s almost 11 miles of asphalt trail following the North Platte River will eventually
connect Paradise Valley with Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park.
“The Bus” is a fixed-route transportation system owned by the City of Casper and operated by the
Casper Area Transportation Coalition (CATC). “The Bus” runs on six routes and makes 185 stops.
CATC also provides dial-a-ride transportation in Casper, Mills, Evansville, Bar Nunn and portions of
Natrona County for the elderly and disabled.
In commuting statistics, Natrona County differs in several ways from Wyoming and nationwide
patterns. A larger percentage of Natrona County residents commute alone in their vehicles (NC:
80.6%; WY: 75.9%; US: 76.1%).
Compared with national statistics Natrona County and Wyoming residents have markedly shorter
travel times to work (NC: 74.9%; WY: 72.6%; US: 43.3% travel less than 20 minutes) and (NC:
18.4%; WY: 18.4%; US: 41.0% travel between 20 - 44 minutes). These statistics are consistent with
Natrona County's population concentration and geographic remoteness. Travel to the nearest
regional population centers requires longer travel: Cheyenne 175 miles, Billings 240 miles, Rapid
City 250 miles, Denver 280 miles, and Salt Lake City 400 miles.
The following charts depict 2010 Census data estimates for commuters:
Natrona
County
No.
%
Means of Transportation
To Work
Car, truck, or van: Alone
Car, truck, or van: Carpooled
Worked at home
Walked
Other means
Bicycle
Motorcycle
Public Transportation (Bus, rail, taxi)
31,118
4,758
1,129
547
528
164
94
282
38,620
Totals
80.6%
12.3%
2.9%
1.4%
1.4%
0.4%
0.2%
0.7%
100.0%
Wyoming
No.
%
214,506
33,044
14,377
10,789
2,441
2,647
782
3,998
282,584
75.9%
11.7%
5.1%
3.8%
0.9%
0.9%
0.3%
1.4%
100.0%
United
States
No.
%
106.2M
14.2M
5.9M
4.0M
1.2M
0.8M
0.3M
7.0M
139.6M
76.1%
10.2%
4.2%
2.8%
0.9%
0.5%
0.2%
5.0%
100.0%
Natrona
County
WY
USA
74.9%
18.4%
6.7%
72.6%
18.4%
9.0%
43.3%
41.0%
15.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2008-2010 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. B08301.
Place of Work / Travel Time to Work
Place of Work
Work in County
Work Outside County
Work Outside WY
Natrona
County
WY
USA
Travel Time
93.7%
4.5%
1.8%
91.8%
5.8%
2.4%
72.6%
23.6%
3.8%
Less than 20 Min.
20-44 Minutes
Over 45 Minutes
U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. B08130.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. C08303, Travel Time to Work.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
16
Civic Issues
A Board of Commissioners administers Natrona County. Voters elect five Commissioners to serve
4-year terms on this Board. The Commissioners oversee the County departments (e.g., Assessor,
Coroner, Emergency Management and Road & Bridge) and twelve County boards (e.g., Fair,
Library, Planning & Zoning and Parks). Natrona County's 2012-13 budget is $53.11 million and the
fiscal year runs July through June. Assessed valuation in FY 2011 was $1.18 billion.
Natrona County has six municipalities, with the City of Casper being the largest. The City is
operated via a 9 member elected Council and a professional City Manager. The City of Casper’s
2012-2013 budget is $147.3 million. The City also receives the largest proportion of the 5th cent
optional tax which has been successfully authorized by voters since 1972. The City is projected to
receive roughly $48 million of the total raised by the 5th cent tax in the 2011-2015 cycle.
Discussions with civic leaders yielded the following current issues:
1) Substance Abuse
Natrona County has a high incidence of substance abuse. Efforts over the past years including the
annual Methamphetamine and Substance Abuse Conference have highlighted the effects of
methamphetamine and other substance abuse and have raised awareness of the issue. Many of
these efforts have helped to reduce methamphetamine use in Wyoming. However, alcohol and
prescription drug abuse is prevalent and on the rise. Alcohol currently plays a role in over 25% of
arrests in Natrona County and in 2008 there were 67 DUI cases per month on average, about triple
the amount from 2004. Between 2010 and 2011, 69 people in Wyoming have died of overdoses of
prescription medications, compared to 5 people between 2004 and 2005. In 2011 Natrona County
12th graders reported that 70% have tried alcohol, 70% tobacco, 39% marijuana, and 3% meth.
Abuse affects all socio-economic groups, all ages and is a bigger issue than most realize. Serious
efforts to implement preventative strategies have floundered. The breakdown of the family,
Wyoming’s high divorce rate and the high percentage of children living in single-parent households
(26%) all contribute to the problem.
2) Education and Workforce Development
It is acknowledged that the County’s workforce lacks enough individuals with basic literacy, math,
and customer service skills to attract out-of-area businesses to relocate. Additionally, the workforce
has drug-related issues as mentioned above. 28% of the Natrona County School District #1 9th to
12th graders “fail to complete”. NCSD #1 has started to focus on turning this trend around. In
particular, it has been noted that 19% of 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. Most students
should be reading at grade level at this age if they are going to be successful in school. Not reading
at grade level in the 3rd grade is a significant predictor of whether a child will drop out of high school.
As such, the community has implemented programs, like the “We Read” program to help our
children reach this important milestone. Another significant issue is the disproportionate lack of
academic encouragement and accountability families provide their children. While many parents are
active in their children’s development, others see the education of their children as uniquely a
school responsibility.
3) An Aging Population
Like the rest of the country, Natrona County is experiencing a flux of retiring Baby Boomers and
seniors. Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and are now 49-67 years old. Those over age
50, about 99 million people, make up about 32% of the nation’s population. Natrona County’s
boomer and senior population is similar to the U.S. average with 33% age 50 or older. From 2000 to
2010 Natrona County’s over-50 population increased 5%. Anticipating this trend, the City of Casper
initiated the Casper Area “Boomer” Study -- 2008, which outlined six goals for our community in the
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
17
areas of health care, workforce, leisure activities, information/social networks, financial planning
and housing. We learned Boomer retirees will want “stimulation” (i.e. health, travel, intellectual
pursuits), “upscale” offerings and will desire more customer service. They will be more discerning
consumers and will want “meaningful” volunteer work. There are two tiers of retirees: the “youngold” in their 60s-70s who are active and the “Older-old” in their 80s-90s who will be less mobile and
will likely experience health issues. Since more cancer and heart diseases are being cured, seniors
will be experiencing more neurological-based diseases with associated longer healthcare
requirements. The Boomer Study also found that:
 37% of Casper Boomers have an ongoing medical condition and 14% do not have a primary
care doctor
 31% of Casper Boomers do not know when they will retire, 36-44% may need to work part time
after retirement
4) Balanced Development – Downtown, Corridor, East & West
The City of Casper is committed to balancing development in all areas of Casper. The objective is
driven by a desire to preclude the growth of businesses exclusively on the periphery of the City
while the downtown dies, as has happened in some other cities. Both the Eastside and Westside
have seen considerable commercial and subdivision growth in the past decade. While this private
development progressed, the City has worked to develop the West Central Corridor (the old
Yellowstone District between downtown and Poplar Street) and the Platte River Commons. To date,
there are only a limited number of new entities at these sites.
5) Human Services
Natrona County offers, and the residents receive, a high level of human services. Statistically, the
cases of depression and suicide are high and a large proportion of the population is dealing with
mental issues. Wyoming's suicide rate is about 23 per 100,000 people, almost twice the national
average. Average housing costs have increased significantly in the past few years, leading to a lack
of affordable housing and limiting workforce housing options. Similarly, finding quality child care is
regularly reported as a community human services need. Over 300 homeless children currently
attend NCSD #1 schools.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
18
Demographics
The following demographic profile of Natrona County relies primarily on census data. Where
available other sources are noted.
Demographically, Natrona County compares closely with statewide patterns. The County differs
most from Wyoming in the following areas: it has a higher percentage of single-parent households
and divorced people; lower median household income; lower vacancy rate; and the County is
ethnically less diverse.
Other departures from the Wyoming and national demographic profiles follow:






Age – 2011 census estimates show that the percentage of children in Natrona County is
23.8%, down from 26% in 2000 and 29.3% in the 1990 census. The population of the
County as a whole grew 8.7% between 1990 and 2000 and 13.4% between 2000 and 2010.
The largest percentage gain was in the “Baby Boomer” (45 to 59) segment of the population,
which jumped from 14.2 percent of Natrona County’s population in 1990 to 21.7% in 2011.
Under 18: (NC: 23.8%; WY: 23.7%; US: 23.7%). Between 18 - 24 years: (NC: 10.0%; WY:
10.1%; US: 10.0%). Between 45-59 years: (NC: 21.7%; WY: 22.0%; US: 20.8%)
Income -- Natrona County’s per capita income is consistent with statewide patterns, and
slightly higher than national figures: (NC: $28,116; WY: $27,973; US: $26,708). However,
Natrona County reports lower median household incomes than Wyoming: (NC: $52,603;
WY: $56,322; US: $50,502). The 2011 Census estimates reported poverty in Natrona
County as: 8,394 people or 11.2% of the County population, of which 2,576 or 30.7% were
children under 18.
Housing -- Natrona County rental costs are higher than Wyoming averages but lower than
national averages and housing values are lower than both Wyoming and national averages:
Gross Rent (NC: $810; WY: $759; US $871); Median Housing Value (NC: $165,700; WY:
$179,900; US: $173,600). Natrona County reports slightly lower owner occupancy than
Wyoming averages: (NC: 68.7%; WY: 70.6%; US: 67.2%). Natrona County has a lower
proportion of mobile homes than Wyoming, but more than the nation: (NC: 10.9%; WY:
13.7%; US: 6.5%).
Ethnicity -- With respect to racial and ethnic categories, Natrona County has a larger
Caucasian population than the state and nation (NC: 92.0%; WY: 90.7%; US: 74.1%).
Consequently, the County has a lower percentage of African-Americans (NC: 1.2%; WY:
0.9%; US: 12.6%), Asians (NC: 0.9%; WY: 0.9%; US: 4.8%) and Hispanics (NC: 6.8%, WY:
8.6%; US: 16.1%) than national averages, but a slightly higher percentage of American
Indians (NC: 1.2%; WY: 2.2%; US: 0.8%).
Education -- Educational attainment levels are consistent with statewide patterns and
higher than the national averages. 62.8% of Natrona County residents have post-high
school education compared with 57.5% for the nation. Only 10.2% of Natrona County
residents do not hold a high school diploma or GED versus 14.1% of all Americans. (See
Education)
Employment -- Occupational patterns in Natrona County closely compare with Wyoming.
Industry differences in Natrona County compared with Wyoming include more
“Manufacturing” (NC: 6.3%, WY: 4.8%), less “Mining” (NC: 6.0%, WY: 11.5%), and slightly
more “Construction” (NC: 9.7%, WY: 8.7%). There are a higher percentage of private-forprofit workers in Natrona County than can be found in the rest of the state (NC: 71.2%; WY:
64.8%); higher percentage of private not-for-profit workers (NC: 7.6%, WY: 7.2%), and fewer
government workers (NC: 15.5%, WY: 21.2).
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
19


Urban/Rural Status -- Natrona County’s population is characterized as 84.8% urban and
15.2% rural. This is a loosely defined category, but does reflect the concentrated population
comprising much of metropolitan Casper.
Language -- Natrona County appears to be more homogeneous in language than either
Wyoming or the nation. About 4.6% of Natrona County’s population speaks a language
other than English compared to 6.5% in Wyoming and 20.3% in the U.S. About 785 (1.4%)
Spanish speakers in the County say they speak English less than “very well.” By
comparison, 5.7% of United States Spanish speakers, and 13.4% of California’s Spanish
speakers say they have little to no ability in English. The census only tracks what
respondents say about their speaking ability, not their reading ability.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007-2011 American Community Survey. DP02 Selected Social Characteristics.
Population and Growth Changes 2000-2010
Casper
Natrona County
Wyoming
2000
2010
49,644
66,533
493,782
55,316
75,450
563,626
2000-10
Change
11.4%
13.4%
14.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Finder, http://www.census.gov/popfinder/
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
20
Census Data Comparisons
Natrona County - Wyoming - USA
Age Distribution
0–9
10 – 19
20 – 29
30 – 44
45 – 64
65 +
Natrona County
11.9%
14.0%
15.2%
18.5%
28.0%
12.6%
Wyoming
13.2%
13.7%
14.3%
18.5%
27.7%
12.7%
USA
12.9%
13.7%
13.9%
19.7%
26.5%
13.3%
23.8%
10.0%
21.7%
23.7%
10.1%
22.0%
23.7%
10.0%
20.8%
Under 18
18 - 24
45-59
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. S0101, Age and Sex
Economic Characteristics
Median Gross Rent
Median Housing Value
Per Capita Income
Median Household Income
Persons Below Poverty Level
Households w/Public Assistance Income
Unemployment Rate (from BLS)
Natrona County
$810
$165,700
$28,116
$52,603
11.2%
4.0%
(Casper) 4.8%
Wyoming
$759
$179,900
$27,973
$56,322
11.3%
1.8%
5.2%
USA
$871
$173,600
$26,708
$50,502
11.2%
2.9%
7.9%
Oct. 2012 Seasonally Adjusted Rate
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. B25064, Median Gross Rent; GCT2510, Median
Housing Value; B19301, Per Capita Income; B19013, Median Household Income; S1701, Poverty Status; B19057, Public Assistance
Income for Households.
Household Income Distribution
Less than $15,000
$15,000 - 24,999
$25,000 - 49,999
$50,000 - 99,999
$100,000 - 149,999
Over $150,000
Natrona County
8.9%
14.3%
25.0%
28.8%
15.9%
7.1%
Wyoming
8.9%
10.4%
25.6%
34.4%
14.5%
6.2%
USA
13.6%
11.4%
24.4%
29.7%
12.1%
8.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. B19001, Household Income.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Housing
Occupancy Rate
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Natrona County
87.6%
68.7%
31.3%
12.4%
Wyoming
83.8%
70.6%
29.4%
16.2%
USA
87.9%
67.2%
32.8%
12.1%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. DP04, Selected Housing Characteristics
Housing Types
1-Unit
2-Units or more
Mobile homes
Other
Totals
Natrona County
Wyoming
USA
71.9%
17.0%
10.9%
0.2%
70.8%
15.4%
13.7%
0.1%
67.3%
26.3%
6.5%
0.1%
100%
100%
100%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. DP04, Selected Housing Characteristics.
Race
White
Am. Indian
Black
Asian
Other
Natrona County
92.0%
1.2%
1.2%
0.9%
4.7%
Wyoming
90.7%
2.2%
0.9%
0.9%
5.4%
U.S.
74.1%
0.8%
12.6%
4.8%
7.7%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. B02001, Race.
Hispanic or Latino Origin
Not Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic or Latino
Natrona
County
93.2%
6.8%
Wyoming
U.S.
91.4%
8.6%
83.9%
16.1%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2008-2010 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates.
B03002, Hispanic or Latino Origin by Race.
Marital Status
Never Married
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Natrona County
30.0%
48.2%
5.3%
14.6%
Wyoming
28.0%
52.5%
5.2%
12.9%
USA
32.5%
48.3%
6.0%
11.0%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. S1201, Marital Status.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Households, Families and Children
Households
Family Households
Households w/children (under 18)
Single Parents
Natrona County
30,158
62.8%
27.3%
9.1%
Wyoming
222,539
64.1%
29.2%
8.4%
USA
114,991,725
66.2%
32.7%
9.7%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. DP02, Selected Social Characteristics
Urban and Rural Status
Urban
Rural
Natrona County
84.8%
15.2%
Wyoming
62.2%
37.8%
USA
79.0%
21.0%
U.S. Census Bureau, Table H2, Urban and Rural, SF1, 2010.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
23
Business
Natrona County is home to almost 3,000 businesses with paid employees and almost 6,000
nonemployer businesses, of which almost half (44.8%) have revenues less than $500,000. The
economy of the County has been historically tied to natural resources, notably energy and
agriculture.
A pattern of boom and bust in the energy industry has made Casper’s business leaders aware of
the need to diversify the economy. Since 1987, the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance
(CAEDA) has promoted Casper as Wyoming’s business, financial, manufacturing, and retail center.
Casper’s central geographic location and related air, rail, and highway hubs also have helped this
business initiative. The airport operates Foreign Trade Zone #157 and is the only U.S. Customs and
Border Protection Port of Entry in Wyoming. 470 chartered, military and private aircraft cleared
customs in 2012.
Since 2000, Casper has enjoyed a growth in business, largely due to the increase of statewide
natural gas production. With this increase, the business environment in Casper and the state has
noticeably improved. As a result of this change, Wyoming and Casper received a number of
business development awards. In 2004 Kiplinger's Personal Finance named Casper the “Lowest
Taxed City” among 101 cities surveyed in all 50 states, and in 2007 Casper was rated #1 in
Kiplinger's "Top Ten Tax-Friendly Cities." Casper was selected as one of the best places to start
and grow a company by Entrepreneur and the National Policy Research Council in 2006, while the
May 2007 issue of Inc. Magazine selected Casper as one of the hottest cities for entrepreneurs in
America. Area Development magazine included Casper on its list of 10 Leading Locations in 2012
for economic and workforce growth indicators.
The number of firms in Natrona County has grown slowly but steadily in the last decade, with the
Census Bureau reporting 2,913 business with paid employees in 2010, up from 2,625 in 2000. The
number of self-employed businesses has also increased from 4,965 in 2004 to 5,654 in 2010. The
increase closely follows a statewide trend, with most firms in services, construction and retail trade.
Manufacturing is under-represented throughout Wyoming. The community is especially interested
in creating jobs for recent graduates, thereby enabling them to remain in the area.
The Business Resource Council and Chamber of Commerce recognize the importance of four
institutions in drawing people and business to the area: Wyoming Medical Center, Casper College,
the 10,000 seat Casper Events Center, and the Casper/Natrona County International Airport.
There are five concentrations of shopping: ‘Downtown’ Casper, the Eastside shopping area
including the Eastridge Mall, Beverly Plaza, Sunrise Shopping Center, and the Westside shopping
area. Eastridge Mall, built in 1982, holds about 100 stores and is the largest complex of its kind in
central Wyoming. With several large retail chains such as Sears, J.C. Penney, Target and Macy’s,
it has become a destination shopping center for many Wyoming residents. Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart
and Home Depot, located across the street, provide additional large retail outlets as well as
Menards and Kohl’s further west on 2nd Street.
The east and west sides of Casper have had substantial housing and commercial development.
The west side has seen a new Wal-Mart facility and several major subdivisions built. The east side
has also seen substantial growth with the new McMurry Business Park, several medical offices, a
for-profit hospital, auto dealerships, large retail chains and restaurants.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
24
Reflecting the importance of retail trade, the County had annual sales tax collections of over $72.5
million in FY12, second to Laramie County. Natrona County has an optional 5th cent sales tax that
collected another $18.1 million in FY12, which is distributed to jurisdictions on a per capita basis.
The Natrona County School District is the single largest employer in the area, with nearly 3,000
teachers and support staff (See Education Section). The Wyoming Medical Center is the second
largest employer. This 207-bed not-for-profit hospital employs about 1,200 staff and is well known
for its cardiac and cancer facilities. A 98,000 square-foot West Tower addition currently being built
for $42.5 million will help the center compete with other medical facilities in the region.
Since before statehood (in 1890), livestock production has been big business in the County. In
September 2005 there were 380 ranches with 60,000 head of cattle and 23,000 sheep in Natrona
County. Dollar wise, the total livestock investment exceeds $64 million. Many of the County’s
agricultural units are small, irrigated farms on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Kendrick Irrigation
Project west of Casper. The project covers about 28,000 acres, most of which is under cultivation
with crops of hay, wheat, barley, and oats.
Recreation is also important. Alcova and Pathfinder reservoirs (built by the Bureau of Reclamation)
provide boating facilities. Casper Mountain hosts winter sports. Winter shelter facilities have been
constructed in Beartrap Meadow Park with 10 miles of trails. Hogadon Basin offers three 600-foot
vertical runs for skiers. Golfers have access to four area courses. Casper Whitewater Park is a
one half mile stretch of the North Platte River with four man made rock structures for recreation.
Hunting elk, deer, antelope, small game, and fishing are popular both with residents and out-ofstate visitors, many of them guided by local outfitters. Jade, moss agate, petrified wood and jasper
beds located in the western part of the County are reputed to be some of the best in the U.S.
Natrona County is served by the Casper Star Tribune (circulation: 33,000), the Casper Journal (circ:
30,000), the Casper College newspaper Chinook (2,800), Wyoming Archaeologist (400), and
Wyoming Trucker (3,200). Optimum provides cable television for Casper. Area TV affiliates include:
KCWY-TV 13 (NBC), KFNB-TV (Fox), KGWC-TV 14 (CBS), KPTW-TV (PBS), KTWO-TV 2 (ABC).
Radio stations include: KASS-FM 106.9 (100,000 watts), KCSP-FM 90.3 (100,000 watts), KCWCFM 88.1 (3,000 watts), KERN-FM 98.3, KHOC-FM 102.5 (100,000 watts), KIQZ-FM 92.7 (3,000
watts), KQLT-FM 103.7 (100,000 watts), KRVK-FM 107.9 (100,000 watts), KTRS-FM 104.7 (18,000
watts), KUWC-FM 91.3 (530,000 watts), KGOS-AM 1490 (1,000 watts), KMLD-FM 94.5 (65,000
watts), KRAL-AM 1240 (1,000 watts), KTWO-AM 1030 (50,000 Watts), KUYO-AM 830 (25,000
watts), KVOC-AM 1230 (1,000 watts), KVOW-AM 1450 (1,000 watts), KWYY-FM 95.5 (100,000
watts).
------------------“Unlike many communities in the state that are either dependent on old family traditions or the old
type of economy such as agriculture, this town is a high rolling town. And as such, people are
always coming up with wild ideas. That’s what makes this place so exciting. You just can’t stop
this town.” -- Ken Erickson, Former Casper City Manager
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
25
Summary of Employment Size Class
Number of Employees
2006
1 – 19
20 – 99
100 – 499
> 499
Totals
Natrona County
No.
%
2,573
303
35
2
2,913
Wyoming
No.
%
88.3%
10.4%
1.2%
0.1%
100%
18,270
1,718
225
18
20,231
90.4%
8.5%
1.1%
0.1%
100%
USA
No.
%
6,408 K
824 K
148 K
17 K
7,397 K
86.6%
11.1%
2.0%
0.2%
100%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 2010 County Business Patterns.
Summary of Business Revenues in Natrona County and Wyoming
% Businesses by 2012 Revenue
Natrona County
Wyoming
Less than $500,000
44.8%
48.2%
$500,000 - 1 Million
23.8%
24.1%
$1 - 2.5 Million
16.5%
15.1%
$2.5 - 5 Million
5.6%
5.2%
$5 - 10 Million
4.8%
3.9%
$10 - 20 Million
2.5%
1.9%
Over $20 Million
2.0%
1.6%
100.0%
100.0%
Totals:
Source: Reference USA Database, 2012.
Employment (16 and Older)
Employment
Natrona County
No.
%
Wyoming
No.
%
USA
No.
%
Population
60,695
100.0%
446,044
100.0%
246.2M
100.0%
Civilian Labor Force
42,449
69.9%
305,529
68.5%
156.5M
63.6%
Employed
39,410
64.9%
289,976
65.0%
140.4M
57.0%
3,039
5.0%
15,553
3.5%
16.1M
6.5%
Unemployed
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. DP03, Selected Economic Characteristics.
Large Public Sector Employers
Employer
Activity
Employees
Natrona County School District
School
2,478
City of Casper
City Government
1,162
Casper College
Education
460
Natrona County
County Government
315
U.S. Postal Service
Federal Government
165
Source: CAEDA’s web page, http://www.caeda.net/industries.shtml and 2008 Casper/Natrona Community Data Book
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
26
Major Private Employers in Natrona County
Business Name
Line of Business
Employees
Wyoming Medical Center
Hospital
1,018
Walmart Supercenter
Department Store
700
Key Energy Services, Inc.
Oil & Gas Field Services
540
Unit Drilling Co
Oil Well Drilling
500
Halliburton
Oil Well Services
400
Wyoming Machinery Co
Caterpillar Dealer
350
Codale Electric Supply
Electric Contractors
300
DHS Drilling Co
Oil Well Drilling
300
Halliburton Sperry Drilling
Oil Field Service
300
Casper Events Center
Convention & Meeting Facilities
269
Keyhole Technologies LLC
Construction Services
270
Community Health Center
Clinics
250
Johnson Restaurant Group Inc
Restaurants
250
Shepherd of the Valley
Nursing & Convalescent Homes
250
SST Energy Corp
Oil Well Drilling
250
Lending Tree
Loans
203
JW Williams Inc
Oil Field Equipment-Manufacturers
203
Anderson Signs & Supply Inc
Traffic Signs Signals & Equip-Whls
200
Mountain View Regional Hosp
Hospitals
200
Parkway Plaza Hotel & Convntn
Hotels & Motels
175
Westech Inc
Fabricated Structural Metal Mfrs
175
M-I SWACO
Oil Field Service
163
Casper Star Tribune
Newspapers Publishers/Mfrs
155
Eighty-Eight Oil LLC
Oil-Crude-Purchasing
150
Sam’s Club
Wholesale Clubs
150
Belle Fourche Pipeline
Pipe Line Companies
150
Best Western-Ramkota
Hotels & Motels
150
Hilltop National Bank
Banks
150
Menards
Home Centers
150
Toolpushers Supply Co
Oil Field Equipment Whls
150
True Drilling LLC
Drilling & Boring Contractors
150
Source: Reference USA Database &
CAEDA: 2012 Community Data Profile and 2012 Community Data Book, http://www.caeda.net/publications.shtml
* M = Million
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
27
Class of Worker
Natrona
County
Class of Worker
No.
Private for profit wage & salary workers
Private not-for-profit wage & salary workers
Self-employed workers
Federal government
State government
Local government
Totals
Wyoming
%
28,045
3,000
2,260
831
1,391
3,883
39,410
No.
71.2%
7.6%
5.7%
2.1%
3.5%
9.9%
100.0%
USA
%
187,948
20,918
19,589
9,455
20,783
31,283
289,976
No.
64.8%
7.2%
6.8%
3.3%
7.2%
10.8%
100.0%
%
99.1M
11.3M
8.9M
3.9M
6.5M
10.6M
140.3M
70.6%
8.0%
6.4%
2.8%
4.6%
7.6%
100.0%
U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. S2408, Class of Worker
Paid Employees by Economic Sector
Industry
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Natrona County
No.
%
Wyoming
No.
%
USA
No.
%
n/a
n/a
209
0.1%
0.2M
0.1%
1,974
6.0%
23,581
11.5%
0.6M
0.5%
n/a
n/a
2,492
1.2%
0.6 M
0.6%
Construction
3,172
9.7%
17,797
8.7%
5.3 M
4.8%
Manufacturing
2,062
6.3%
9,746
4.8%
10.9 M
9.7%
Wholesale trade
2,496
7.6%
7,632
3.7%
5.6 M
5.0%
Retail trade
5,071
15.5%
30,608
14.9%
14.5 M
12.9%
Transportation and warehousing
1,211
3.7%
9,115
4.4%
4.0 M
3.6%
444
1.4%
3,957
1.9%
3.1 M
2.8%
Finance and insurance
1,080
3.3%
6,932
3.4%
5.9 M
5.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing
1,096
3.4%
4,293
2.1%
1.9 M
1.7%
Professional, scientific & technical svcs.
1,670
5.1%
8,999
4.4%
7.8 M
7.0%
116
0.4%
846
0.4%
2.8 M
2.5%
1,206
3.7%
5,862
2.9%
9.0 M
8.0%
173
0.5%
2,063
1.0%
3.3 M
2.9%
5,181
15.9%
31,820
15.5%
17.8 M
15.9%
Mining, quarrying, oil & gas extraction
Utilities
Information
Mgmt. of companies & enterprises
Administrative and support and waste
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
407
1.2%
4,290
2.1%
2.0 M
1.8%
Accommodation and food services
3,548
10.9%
26,089
12.7%
11.3 M
10.1%
Other services (except public admin.)
1,594
4.9%
8,648
4.2%
5.2 M
4.6%
Industries not classified
5
0.0%
67
0.0%
n/a
n/a
TOTAL:
32,650
100.0%
205,046
100.0%
112.0M
100.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 County Business Patterns
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
28
Industry Sector Earnings in Natrona County
2008 Earnings
Sector
Total
($M)
% of NC
Earnings
*
NC as a
% of WY*
Mining
631.8
22.7%
18.1%
Construction
229.7
8.3%
11.5%
Manfg
127.4
4.6%
17.8%
Wholesale
275.0
9.9%
40.4%
Retail
200.9
7.2%
18.1%
83.2
3.0%
17.5%
71.5
2.6%
22.6%
133.7
4.8%
15.5%
341.1
12.3%
26.7%
Finance &
Insurance
Real Estate
Prof. & Tech.
Services
Health Care
Accommodation
& Food Svcs.
Other Services
77.3
2.8%
10.7%
253.7
9.1%
16.0%
Gov’t
357.0
12.8%
8.8%
2,782.2
100.0%
16.1%
Total
Source: “Equality State Almanac 2010”
*Calculated
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
29
Tax Collections in Natrona County
FY 2009 Taxes
Tax
% of NC
Taxes*
Sector
Collections
$M
Mining
$10.7
10.5%
Utilities
$3.1
3.1%
Construction
$2.3
2.3%
Manfg
$5.6
5.5%
Wholesale
$10.2
10.0%
Retail
$41.3
40.3%
Information
$1.4
1.4%
Financial
Activities
Leisure
Hospitality
Other
Services
Public
Admin
Other
$5.1
5.0%
$8.4
8.2%
$4.0
4.0%
$9.3
9.1%
$0.8
0.7%
Total
$102.4 M
100%
Source: “Equality State Almanac 2010”
*Calculated
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
30
Education
“Every Learner a Champion” is the Natrona County School District #1 motto. The Natrona County
School District consists of 27 elementary schools, 6 middle/junior high schools, and 4 senior high
schools.
The school district reported an enrollment of 12,075 students for the 2011-12 school year. Of this
total, 6,671 or 55.2%, are enrolled in elementary school (K-6); 2,690 or 22.3%, are enrolled in
middle school (grades 7-9); and 2,714 or 22.5% enrolled in high school.
High school educational attainment levels in Natrona County are slightly below statewide patterns;
89.8% of Natrona County’s residents hold a high school diploma compared to 92.0% statewide;
21.6% of Natrona County residents hold a Bachelor’s degree compared to 24.7% statewide. 114
residents were issued GED certificates in the 2011-12 school year through Casper College’s Adult
Learning Center (Adult Basic Education and GED program).
According to the Wyoming Department of Education, in 2011-12, 190 high school students (grades
9-12) in Natrona County dropped out of school with a dropout event rate of 5.0%. The reported
statewide average dropout event rate is 3.8%. The Natrona County graduation rate is 73.72%.
In 2011, Wyoming students who took the American College Test (ACT) scored an average of 20
and Natrona County students also scored an average of 20 per the Wyoming Department of
Education. The ACT national webpage, reports 2011 average composite scores of 20.3 for
Wyoming and 21.1 for the nation. As of 2011-12, the student-teacher ratio for the primary public
schools in Natrona County is 17 to 1. In 2011-12, certified teachers, administrators, and support
staff number 1,193 and there were 934 non-certified support staff.
Natrona County’s schools contain a high percentage of low-income students. In 2009, 34.0% of all
students used free or reduced-price meals compared with 34.8% for the state. According to NCSD
#1, fewer secondary students participate due to fear of embarrassment and being singled out. The
school district estimates that there were approximately 300 homeless students in grades K-12
during the 2011-12 school year.
Free Meals
Reduced Price Meals
Total
NCSD #1
25.3%
8.7%
34.0%
Wyoming
25.0%
9.8%
34.8%
Source: Wyoming Dept. of Ed, Stat 2,
http://portals.edu.wyoming.gov/DataReporting/ReportSeries/stat2.aspx, 2011
In 2011-12, ethnic minorities made up 13.9% of the Natrona County public school student body,
somewhat lower than the 19.5% State of Wyoming minority population. Per pupil expenditure in
2010-11 was $13,140 compared with the state average of $14,358.
The District operates a school-of-choice system in which parents may enroll their children in any
school, regardless of location. This “choice with results” emphasis encourages parental-student
involvement, curriculum improvement, and provides a wide range of educational choices. The
curriculum is performance-based. Some of the program choices include: Junior ROTC and
International Baccalaureate Programs at NCHS; Advanced Placement (AP) program at Kelly
Walsh; the Star Lane Center; Fort Caspar Academy, a “back-to-basics” school; Park Elementary’s
Spanish Language instruction; Woods Learning Center project-based curriculum; and ESL
programs at Evansville, North Casper, Fort Caspar Academy, Centennial Middle School, DMJH and
NCHS.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
31
The School District recently launched a “Path to 2025” process to develop concepts for improving
the secondary curriculum. The process is also intended to provide guidance for building a new high
school.
A variety of educational recovery programs are in place to re-engage students who drop out of the
Districts’ secondary schools. These include the Transitions, REACH High and Virtual Learning
programs. The Transitions program includes the ProStart Culinary program which introduces high
school students to careers in the restaurant and food industry, and the Youth Build program which
introduces high school students to various hands-on career possibilities within the construction
industry.
In addition to regular classroom instruction, Special Education, Title III and Gifted and Talented
programs are offered at the elementary level. Preschool is also offered at Title I elementary
schools. Reading labs/classes are offered in the secondary schools. All secondary schools offer
opportunities for students to deal with social issues on a voluntary basis through group interaction in
programs such as “Respectful Resolutions” and T.R.O.Y. (Together Reaching Our Youth). Popular
extracurricular programs include Science Fair and History Day.
Beginning in 1995, a series of decisions by the Wyoming Supreme Court in Campbell v. State led to
extensive legislative reform of the state’s school funding system, including funding for adequate
school facilities. As a result the Natrona County School District is upgrading its secondary education
facilities. Kelly Walsh and Natrona County high schools will be renovated and a new high school
campus is being planned. The new campus will provide a home for Roosevelt High School and the
Transitions Program as well as an Academy-based learning center. The state has appropriated
$275 million for the design and construction of these new campuses.
The school district also provides a planetarium where students are provided astronomy and space
science instruction through computerized programs and classroom materials. The Science Zone,
located in downtown Casper, was created to teach students about science through activities and
hands-on exhibits.
Casper also offers several private elementary schools (Paradise Valley Christian School, St.
Anthony’s Catholic School, Mt. Hope Lutheran School and Mountain Road Christian Academy - a
Seventh-Day Adventist School), a Montessori School, and a wide variety of preschools.
According to the Natrona County School District, 134 County families taught 264 children via homebased instruction in the 2011-12 school year.
Casper College, the state’s largest 2-year community college, was formed in 1945 by a group of
business leaders. Today, with 28 buildings on more than 200 acres, the college offers over 140
academic transfer and technical and career programs to approximately 5,000 students. The
University of Wyoming, through cooperative efforts with Casper College, offers 17 undergraduate
degrees and 12 graduate degrees. The Casper College Upper Division Center hosts bachelor,
master and doctorate degrees from out-of-state colleges and universities, which include Franklin
University, University of Mary, University of North Dakota, and others. In addition to sporting events
the college regularly hosts a number of cultural and performance arts events.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
32
The following Census and state Department of Education figures compare Natrona County,
Wyoming, and national educational enrollment and attainment rates.
School Enrollment (Age 3 and Over), 2011
Natrona County
Enrollment
Preprimary
Public
1.2%
Private
1.4%
Elem-H.S.
Public
15.9%
Private
1.7%
College
Public
5.6%
Private
0.9%
Not Enrolled
73.3%
Wyoming
USA
1.0%
0.6%
1.0%
0.7%
16.9%
1.1%
16.3%
1.8%
6.2%
0.9%
73.3%
5.9%
2.0%
72.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.
C14002, School enrollment by level of school by type of school. (Calculated)
Educational Attainment (Age 25 and Over), 2011
Attainment
Less than 9th Grade
9th –12th, No Diploma
H.S. Graduate
Some College, No Degree
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Grad. Or Prof. Degree
Natrona Cty
3.5%
6.7%
27.0%
29.7%
11.4%
15.5%
6.2%
Wyoming
1.8%
6.2%
30.8%
26.6%
9.9%
16.5%
8.3%
USA
6.0%
8.1%
28.4%
21.2%
7.8%
17.9%
10.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, S1501.
Wyoming and Casper GED Statistics
Total GEDs Issued in WY
Tested in Casper (Completed)
2011
1,185
13.6%
2012
1,090
10.5%
Source: Wyoming Community College Commission, GED Program
Dropout Numbers and Rates, 2010-11
Wyoming
Natrona County SD #1
Laramie County SD #1
Campbell County SD #1
Number of
dropouts
1,051
190
210
94
Drop out event rates
(gr. 9-12)
3.8%
5.0%
6.3%
3.8%
Percent of state
dropout total
-20.2%
21.6%
21.6%
Source: Wyoming Dept. of Ed, Stat 3,
http://edu.wyoming.gov/DataInformationAndReporting/StatisticalReportSeries3.aspx, 2010-11
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
33
Social Services
Natrona County has many active social service organizations serving a wide spectrum of personal,
family and community needs. The community has about 500 non-profit organizations, many of
which provide assistance to residents. To navigate through these many options, a few organizations
provide locator and referral services. These include the Wyoming211 health and human services
referral program supported by the United Way of Natrona County and available at
http://wyoming211.org/; and Community Action Partnership of Natrona County at
http://www.capnc.org/ and available in print at the Community Action Partnership office.
The City of Casper, Housing and Community Development Division estimates that there were 523
people without homes in Natrona County during the winter of 2012. The larger agencies providing
housing assistance include: Interfaith serves almost 5,400 people annually with emergency rent
support and other services; the Seton House transitional housing center, where 31 families are
assisted with finding employment and provided housing; Community Action Partnership of
Natrona County operates 22 units of transitional housing through Life Steps Transitional Housing
for both single-parent and two-parent families, as well as pregnant women; and the Central
Wyoming Rescue Mission provides emergency shelter to about 150 single adults per month,
averaging about 60 overnight guests per day. Habitat for Humanity builds approximately two
homes each year.
Life Steps Campus houses 9 programs that provide assistance to the homeless and other
vulnerable populations through housing, health care and other supportive services. The
Community Action Partnership of Natrona County operates Health Care for the Homeless
providing primary health care, outreach case management, mental health and substance abuse
service to about 1,100 people annually. They also provide emergency rent and utility assistance.
Community Health Center of Central Wyoming and Wyoming Family Practice offer medical
services with a sliding scale for low income people.
The Wyoming Department of Family Services provides a variety of federal and state aid
including Medicaid, assistance with power bills, food stamps, child care, and juvenile probation. The
Salvation Army Family Services and Food Bank operates the Goodstein Center for Hope
providing food, utilities assistance, clothing, household furnishings, transportation, and a variety of
youth activities. Overall, they serve over 6,400 people annually. There are three other food
distribution services in Natrona County: Joshua’s Storehouse, Food Bank of the Rockies, and
Holy Cross Center, Inc.
The Youth Crisis Center and its affiliated two group homes provide assistance to over 720
troubled teens and runaways annually. They provide short-term crisis intervention for youth and
parents as an alternative to jail. The Youth Crisis Center is constructing a new facility on East 12th
Street between the LifeSteps Transitional Housing campus and the Meals on Wheels building. The
new building will combine the center’s three previous facilities.
Several groups provide substance abuse treatment assistance. Central Wyoming Counseling
Center serves about 3,000 mental health and substance abuse cases annually. The Wyoming
Behavioral Institute is a private behavioral and substance abuse treatment center providing inand outpatient services. Wyoming Recovery Program, a private treatment facility, treats patients
with addiction illnesses. Almost 2,000 people annually seek counseling for family crisis and
substance abuse prevention at Mercer Family Resource Center. Uplift Wyoming helps families
of children with emotional or behavioral disorders through parenting workshops, parent support
groups, and individual counseling and referral services. Highland Park Community Church
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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operates both a counseling program and Celebrate Recovery which serves about 50 individuals
every Friday.
The Self Help Center offers programs addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and
substance abuse prevention. They report 500 advocacy cases and 2,000 hotline calls annually.
Central Wyoming Senior Center serves meals and conducts a variety of programs for about 2,000
area residents annually. Meals on Wheels provides meals for about 450 people per day. Assisted
living facilities operate at the Garden Square of Casper, Meadow Wind Assisted Living
Community, Park Place Assisted Living, Primrose Retirement Community, Mountain Plaza
Assisted Living Life Care of Casper, Poplar Living Center and the Shepherd of the Valley
Care Center.
Roughly 400 children under 5 years old with special needs attend the Child Development Center
of Natrona County. Northern Wyoming Community Action Program (NOWCAP) serves
approximately 125 developmentally disabled adults at 10 group homes and other personal
residences throughout Casper. The Arc of Natrona County assists approximately 250
developmentally disabled children and adults per year through a variety of programs. The Parent
Information Center and Parent Education Network are information resources for parents of
disabled children and provide workshops throughout the state.
Literacy Volunteers of Casper assists almost 500 students annually. Casper College’s English
as a Second Language program offers courses for improving language skills and their Adult
Learning Center provides study programs and counseling for GED candidates.
The Boys & Girls Club of Central Wyoming provides an affordable place where youth ages 6-18
can go to participate in a variety of after school programs. The Club serves about 3,000 member
youth per year at seven branches.
Climb Wyoming trains single mothers in nontraditional fields including welding and heavy
equipment operation.
Area youth are afforded a wide variety of activities. Other youth organizations include 4-H, Girl
Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA, and a variety of sports (e.g., baseball, soccer, ice hockey).
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
35
Summary
Natrona County has a long and rich heritage tied with American migration along the Oregon Trail,
ranching-western lore, and the freewheeling boom-and-bust oil patch. Since 1987, community
leaders have attempted to diversify the economy and minimize the devastating boom-bust cycles
that have so strongly affected the County. Centrally located, the area currently is experiencing
vitality, continues to be a transportation hub and is Wyoming’s meeting place.
Library Services
 The Natrona County Public Library has served the community since 1910. It has two branches
(Edgerton, since 1971; Mills, since 1998) and a bookmobile (since 1956). 47,706 or 63% of
County residents are registered NCPL patrons. Annual circulation increased 89% from 327,298
in 2001 to 620,196 in 2012.
 NCPL’s service priorities are: Popular Materials, Gateway to Learning and Literacy, Educational
Support, and Reference.
 NCPL has several special collections, including: geology, Wyoming history, and hunting and
fishing.
 NCPL’s four-year book budget of $1.3 million is funded by One Cent #14. This funding doubles
the pre-2003 collection budget from $2.64 to $5.54 per capita.
 Public revenues increased from $10.11 per capita in 1999 to $31.00 per capita in 2011. A new
bookmobile was added in 2004. A Tech Center and Teen Zone were added in 2005.

A Facility Needs Assessment completed in 2006 determined that Natrona County needs a
larger library. In 2008 an expiring one-cent tax was put before voters on the ballot to build a
new library. The referendum failed by less than 1,600 votes. In 2012 another expiring one-cent
tax referendum failed by less than 600 votes.
Demographics
 Demographically, Natrona County compares closely with statewide patterns. The County differs
most from Wyoming in the following areas: it has a higher percentage of single-parent
households and divorced people; lower median household income; lower vacancy rate; and the
County is ethnically less diverse.
 With respect to ethnic categories, Natrona County has more whites (NC: 92.0%; WY: 90.7%;
US: 74.1%) and American Indians (NC: 1.2%; WY: 2.2%; US: 0.8%). The County reports a
lower percentage of African-Americans (NC: 1.2%; WY: 0.9%; US: 12.6%) and Asians (NC:
0.9%; WY: 0.9%; US: 4.8%).
 Natrona County’s per capita income is consistent with statewide patterns, but slightly higher
than national figures: (NC: $28,116; WY: $27,973; US: $26,708). Fewer Natrona County
residents report household incomes greater than $50,000 than Wyoming: (NC: 51.8%; WY:
55.1%; US: 50.5%).
 Natrona County housing costs are lower than both Wyoming and national averages, but rental
costs are higher than Wyoming: Median Housing Value (NC: $165,700; WY: $179,900; US:
$173,600); Gross Rent (NC: $810; WY: $759; US $871). Natrona County has a higher
proportion of single-parent homes than Wyoming, but slightly less than national averages (NC:
9.1%; WY: 8.4%; US: 9.7%). Natrona County has a lower proportion of mobile homes than
Wyoming, but more than the nation: (NC: 10.9%; WY: 13.7%; US: 6.5%).
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Civic Issues
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Natrona County has high rates of substance abuse and domestic violence. Alcohol and
methamphetamine use for both adults and youth exceed national averages. Considerable
attention via the annual “Methamphetamine and Substance Abuse Conference” has been
directed toward enforcement and treatment of substance abuse.
28% of 9-12 graders “fail to complete” high school. This situation has created several
consequences including the community’s inability to attract many new firms. In particular, what
is needed is a Natrona County workforce that is drug free, literate, and trainable. The business
community wishes to create an environment in which fledgling entrepreneurs are nurtured and
customer service skills are developed. NCSD #1 is developing plans to have all third graders
reading at grade level by 2014. Third grade success is shown to correlate with high school
success and graduation. Currently, 19% of NCSD #1 third graders do not read at grade level.
Large numbers of the Baby Boomer cohort (those born between 1946 and 1964) have started to
retire. Wyoming expects to attract a number of these new retirees because of our quality-of-life
and low cost-of-living. Our community is beginning to consider an increased demand for
stimulating activities, senior-friendly facilities, and affordable access to healthcare.
Education
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Educational attainment levels are consistent with statewide patterns and are higher than
national averages. 62.8% of Natrona County residents have post-high school education
compared with 57.5% for the nation. Only 10.2% of Natrona County residents do not hold a high
school diploma versus 14.1% of all Americans. These overall statistics may change over time
given that 26% of current students "fail to complete".
Natrona County School District operates a school-of-choice system in which parents may enroll
their children in any school, regardless of location. Many special programs are provided at
different locations (e.g., Fort Caspar Academy’s “back to basics”, and the International
Baccalaureate program at NCHS).
Casper College offers more than 140 academic transfer and technical and career programs to
5,000 students. The University of Wyoming offers 17 undergraduate and 12 graduate degrees
on the Casper College Campus.
10.5% of Wyoming’s successful GED candidates are tested in Casper, about 114 people
annually.
Social Services
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Natrona County has a wide variety of social services organizations. Governmental, non-profit,
and private agencies provide services to the area’s homeless, poor, and treat a variety of
substance abuse and domestic violence cases.
The 2011 Census estimates reported poverty in Natrona County for 2011 as: 8,394 people,
including 2,576 children under 18.
34% of all NCSD #1 students use free or reduced-cost meals.
Transportation
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Natrona County is a ground, rail, and air logistic hub for Wyoming. Interstate-25 daily traffic
handles about 20,000 vehicles per day. The Casper/Natrona County International Airport is the
largest airport in Wyoming, operates Foreign Trade Zone #157 and is the state’s only U.S.
Customs Service Port.
Compared with national statistics Natrona County and Wyoming residents have markedly
shorter travel times to work (NC: 74.9%; WY: 72.6%; US: 43.3% travel less than 20 minutes),
(NC: 18.4%; WY: 18.4%; US: 41.0% travel between 20 - 44 minutes).
A larger percentage of Natrona County residents commute alone in their vehicles (NC: 80.6%;
WY: 75.9%; US: 76.1%); and more people carpool (NC: 12.3%; WY: 11.7%; US: 10.2%).
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Business
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Natrona County is home to almost 3,000 businesses with paid employees and almost 6,000
nonemployer businesses, of which almost half (44.8%) have revenues less than $500,000. The
largest employers are the Natrona County School District (2,478 employees) and the Wyoming
Medical Center (1,293 employees). The largest for-profit is Wal-Mart with 700 employees.
Statewide gas production has been increasing since the 1970s. In the past decade gas
production has nearly doubled. By 2008, steadily climbing gas and coal production yielded a $1
billion Wyoming state budget surplus. However, reflecting the recently weakened national
economy, regional oil and gas activity is slowing. Wyoming remains the largest exporter of
energy in the union. As long as the nation continues to consume energy, Wyoming's natural
resources will continue to play an important role in the local economy.
Most employment in the area is in service, retail, and construction. The manufacturing sector is
very limited.
The Small Business Administration and the Small Business Development Center have active
offices in Casper serving the entire state, while CAEDA works to attract larger, established
businesses to Casper.
There are four venues which draw large numbers of people and revenue to Casper. These are
the Casper Events Center, Wyoming Medical Center, Casper College, and the Casper/Natrona
County International Airport.
Occupational patterns in Natrona County closely compare with Wyoming. Industry differences in
Natrona County compared with Wyoming include more “Manufacturing” (NC: 6.3%, WY: 4.8%),
less “Mining” (NC: 6.0%, WY: 11.5%), and slightly more “Construction” (NC: 9.7%, WY: 8.7%).
There is a higher percentage of private-for-profit workers in Natrona County than can be found
in the rest of the state (NC: 71.2%; WY: 64.8%); slightly higher percentage of private not-forprofit workers (NC: 7.6%, WY: 7.2%), and fewer government workers (NC: 15.5%, WY: 21.2%)
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Library Service Recommendations
NCPL is positioned to assist our patrons in addressing many of Natrona County’s issues (i.e.
continued economic vitality and quality of living, serving more seniors, reducing the high school
dropout rate, substance abuse prevention). Some specific recommendations for future NCPL
services include:
Education
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Work with all community agencies to promote emergent literacy. Continue partnering with
NCSD #1 to achieve third graders’ reading proficiency.
Explore and implement focused literacy services to preschools and daycare providers.
Continue partnering with the Casper Star Tribune, Casper Journal and Natrona County School
District on the “We Read” program to promote literacy as a community value.
Continue working with the schools to forge partnerships in serving student information needs
(e.g. Science Fairs, History Day, RIF, NCSD #1 Discovery Program).
Encourage all parents to be active participants in their children's education from birth-tograduation.
Continue to support special needs students including homeless and English Language
Learners.
Continue to collect, identify and provide resources and support for home school families.
Foster life-long learning in the selection of materials. This broad objective includes virtually all
topics including academic success, job changes, health awareness, recreation, and travel.
Library Development
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Build community awareness of the need and political will for a new library facility.
Continue to grow the NCPL Foundation's endowment and foster relationships with donors.
Help the Friends of the Library continue to advocate for library services and a new library facility
to serve our community.
Develop new alternative funding sources whenever possible to support library operations.
Collection
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Expand NCPL's holdings per the Collection Development Plan. The collection should grow to
226,000 items by the end of FY 2014. NCPL currently has the fewest items per capita in
Wyoming (3.0). The average Wyoming library collection is currently 6.6 items per capita. To
accommodate this growth we will continue using floor space as best as possible.
Continue incorporating multiple formats including DVDs, audiobooks, downloadable
audiobooks, Playaways and eBooks.
Ensure the collection's growth serves an aging patron base.
Develop and grow the Hunting and Fishing Collection.
Install RFID to better secure and more efficiently circulate the collection.
Social Services
 Work with NCSD #1 and other community members to foster literacy as a community value.
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Help with community substance abuse prevention by expanding the collection and providing
relevant public programs which promote healthy and stable families.
Continue providing relevant services to seniors, including the Books by Mail program.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
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Technology
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NCPL should continue to play a leading role in introducing our citizens to computers and
electronic information sources. We can do this by providing computer access to those without
computers and conducting training about software applications, the Internet, online resources
and eBooks.
Promote and expand the number of patrons placing holds, renewing books, and initiating InterLibrary Loans remotely via the Internet.
Promote and expand the number of patrons using email and text messaging for library
notifications and reference requests.
Install additional Internet terminals for public use.
Install additional self-check machines for routine patron transactions.
Keep introducing and experimenting with technological advances in public libraries. Sustain
staff competence with new hardware, software, and other new technologies.
Update and sustain the NCPL webpage.
Marketing
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Continue raising community awareness of the limitations of their library.
Continue NCPL presence in community publications (e.g., Chamber of Commerce, visitor
brochures, Casper Journal, Casper Star Tribune).
Continue presence in broadcast media (e.g., TV, radio, web).
Continue publishing the Community Builder Newsletter as a strategic marketing tool.
Business
 Raise community awareness of the library’s conventional and electronic resources for business.

Continue to encourage Natrona County entrepreneurs to use NCPL and other business
services/resources already available in our community.
Continue expanding the Business Collection and promote its holdings. Promote NCPL
reference capabilities to conduct business research.
Natrona County Public Library System – April 2013
40
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