Campbell County, Wyoming

Campbell County Education, Geography, and History

Campbell County is a county located in the state of Wyoming. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 46,133, making it the third-most populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat is Gillette.

Campbell County comprises the Gillette, WY Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Campbell County Name

Named for John A. Campbell, first governor of the territory of Wyoming. Served 1869-1875. Named also for Robert Campbell, who was with Ashley's expedition in this part of the country from 1825 to 1835.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Campbell County History

Ten thousand years ago, the first people came to the high plains to hunt buffalo and antelope. In more recent times, the Sioux and Crow claimed this area as their hunting grounds. In the 1880's, ranchers came to graze long horn cattle and sheep on the open range. They were followed by homesteaders lured by the promise of free land.

Today, Campbell County is the energy capital of the nation. 30% of the nation's coal is produced in area surface mines. The Coal Bed Methane industry is another major contributor to America's economy and Campbell County's prosperity. Ranching is the predominant land use; herds of cattle and sheep graze among large herds of deer and antelope. Every year in the fall, the abundance of wildlife attracts hunters from around the world.

Campbell County Wyoming was recently listed in a popular agricultural magazine as one of the top 100 places to live in rural America. The population is almost 39,000 and growing rapidly due to the planned construction of three additional coal-fired power plants. The unemployment rate is low and job opportunities are high.

Campbell County offers a variety of cultural and social activities extraordinary for a rural area. Our diverse community features beautiful golf courses where the antelope are more of a hazard than the sand traps. CAM-PLEX, a multi-events facility, offers world class concerts and touring companies of Broadway plays. CAM-PLEX is also the site of horse shows, rodeos, conventions and the County Fair. With it's convenient location between the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Bighorn Mountains, a short drive affords you the opportunity for multiple outdoor activities, including skiing, snowmobiling, hiking and fishing.

Gillette, Wyoming

Gillette, Wyoming began when three men filed homestead rights in Rockpile Draw. The new railroad crossed these homesteads, so the Lincoln Land & Livestock Company bought them. In July, 1891, the Livestock Company planned the town of Gillette and sold lots. The town grew with the arrival of the railroad in August of that same year. The city of Gillette was named after Edward Gillette because his survey saved the railroad money. Starting in 1909, small mines were built around the county. The first major coal mine in Campbell County was Wyodak, east of Gillette. The first oil exploration began in the 1940's.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,807 square miles (12,450 km²), of which 4,803 square miles (12,440 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km²) (9.6%) is water

Campbell County covers roughly 3 million acres. The lowest spot in the county is 3,400 feet above sea level at the Little Powder River in the northern end of the county. The highest point is 6,060 feet and is located at the top of North Pumpkin Butte on the western border. The climate is semiarid with an average of 15.75 inches of precipitation a year. May and June are the wettest months, while December and January are the driest.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Sheridan County, Wyoming - west
• Johnson County, Wyoming - west
• Converse County, Wyoming - south
• Weston County, Wyoming - east
• Crook County, Wyoming - east
• Powder River County, Montana - north
  

Education

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