Big Piney, Wyoming

Big Piney, Wyoming
Town
City hall
Nickname:  Ice Box of the Nation
Location of Big Piney in Sublette County, Wyoming.
Big Piney, Wyoming Location in the United States
Coordinates: 42°32′23″N110°6′55″W / 42.53972°N 110.11528°W / 42.53972; -110.11528
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
County	Sublette
Area [1]
• Total	0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2)
• Land	0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	6,824 ft (2,080 m)
Population  (2010) [2]
• Total	552
• Estimate  (2019) [3]	517
• Density	1,017.72/sq mi (392.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	83113
Area code	307
FIPS code	56-07060 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1585490 [5]
Website	Town of Big Piney Wyoming

Big Piney is a town in Sublette County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 552 at the 2010 census.

History

Big Piney is the oldest settlement in Sublette County. It was founded in 1879, when rancher Daniel B. Budd and his partner Hugh McKay came with a thousand head of cattle from Nevada hoping to ship them, but got caught instead in severe winter weather in the Green River Valley. The following year, Dan Budd relocated his family to what became Big Piney.

The town was named after Big Piney Creek. The creek took its name from the pine trees growing along the banks of the creek. ^[6]

Cattle and oil have traditionally been the two primary industries for the area.

The Wardell Buffalo Trap, a canyon used by Native Americans to trap bison, is in the vicinity of Big Piney. ^[7] Its potential archeological value led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. ^[8]

Historical documentaries

In 1987, actress Glenn Close, daughter of one of the town's doctors, co-produced a documentary about the vanishing cowboy of the American West, entitled, "Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys?" The film focused on several generations of cattle ranching families in Big Piney. It was first shown in 1988 as part of the PBS television series "The American Experience" and was narrated by actor Robert Redford.

Big Piney was one of four international locations chosen for the 2006 documentary film Comrades in Dreams, about the impact of local movie theaters in four different cultures (North Korea, Burkina Faso, India and Wyoming). ^[9]

Geography

Big Piney is located at 42°32′23″N110°6′55″W / 42.53972°N 110.11528°W / 42.53972; -110.11528 (42.539768, −110.115350). ^[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.45 square miles (1.17 km²), all land. ^[11]

Climate

Sometimes known as the "Ice Box of the Nation," Big Piney has one of the coldest climates among inhabited locations in the Lower 48. ^[12] Big Piney experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm summers. Because of the high elevation and aridity, large diurnal temperature differences are a regular feature of Big Piney's climate. Precipitation is very low and somewhat concentrated in the warmer months.

Climate data for Big Piney, Wyoming (Miley Memorial Field), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2014
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	48 (9)	54 (12)	64 (18)	75 (24)	84 (29)	91 (33)	96 (36)	93 (34)	89 (32)	79 (26)	67 (19)	55 (13)	96 (36)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	42.2 (5.7)	44.5 (6.9)	54.8 (12.7)	67.3 (19.6)	76.2 (24.6)	84.0 (28.9)	88.3 (31.3)	86.7 (30.4)	81.8 (27.7)	73.3 (22.9)	55.7 (13.2)	44.1 (6.7)	89.0 (31.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	26.7 (−2.9)	29.6 (−1.3)	41.1 (5.1)	51.9 (11.1)	61.8 (16.6)	72.3 (22.4)	81.9 (27.7)	79.8 (26.6)	69.7 (20.9)	55.0 (12.8)	39.4 (4.1)	27.6 (−2.4)	53.1 (11.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)	11.7 (−11.3)	14.9 (−9.5)	26.9 (−2.8)	36.4 (2.4)	45.3 (7.4)	54.2 (12.3)	61.9 (16.6)	60.1 (15.6)	50.8 (10.4)	38.2 (3.4)	24.4 (−4.2)	12.7 (−10.7)	36.5 (2.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	−3.3 (−19.6)	0.2 (−17.7)	12.7 (−10.7)	20.8 (−6.2)	28.9 (−1.7)	36.1 (2.3)	42.0 (5.6)	40.4 (4.7)	31.8 (−0.1)	21.4 (−5.9)	9.4 (−12.6)	−2.2 (−19.0)	19.9 (−6.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−28.6 (−33.7)	−23.6 (−30.9)	−13.9 (−25.5)	6.5 (−14.2)	17.4 (−8.1)	26.5 (−3.1)	29.8 (−1.2)	24.9 (−3.9)	14.4 (−9.8)	3.7 (−15.7)	−12.8 (−24.9)	−25.1 (−31.7)	−34.9 (−37.2)
Record low °F (°C)	−49 (−45)	−44 (−42)	−32 (−36)	−5 (−21)	0 (−18)	13 (−11)	23 (−5)	16 (−9)	5 (−15)	−23 (−31)	−34 (−37)	−50 (−46)	−50 (−46)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.44 (11)	0.37 (9.4)	0.42 (11)	0.69 (18)	1.22 (31)	1.01 (26)	0.89 (23)	0.87 (22)	0.64 (16)	0.62 (16)	0.26 (6.6)	0.23 (5.8)	7.66 (195.8)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	4.1 (10)	4.2 (11)	4.3 (11)	3.6 (9.1)	1.3 (3.3)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.7 (1.8)	2.1 (5.3)	4.2 (11)	3.9 (9.9)	28.6 (72.91)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.0	4.7	5.0	6.4	8.3	5.8	5.9	5.8	6.0	5.2	3.9	3.9	64.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	3.9	3.2	2.9	2.2	0.5	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.2	2.4	3.2	19.9
Source 1: NOAA [13]
Source 2: National Weather Service (WRCC mean maxima, mean minima, average snowfall, NWS snowy days 1948–2014) [14] [15]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	173		—
1930	184		6.4%
1940	241		31.0%
1950	206		−14.5%
1960	663		221.8%
1970	570		−14.0%
1980	530		−7.0%
1990	454		−14.3%
2000	408		−10.1%
2010	552		35.3%
2019 (est.)	517	[3]	−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [16]

2010 census

As of the census ^[2] of 2010, there were 552 people, 228 households, and 131 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,226.7 inhabitants per square mile (473.6/km²). There were 282 housing units at an average density of 626.7 per square mile (242.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.8% White, 0.9% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 4.0% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.7% of the population.

There were 228 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the town was 35.8 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 54.9% male and 45.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 408 people, 161 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,055.3 people per square mile (403.9/km²). There were 192 housing units at an average density of 496.6 per square mile (190.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.53% White, 0.98% Native American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.

There were 161 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,346, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $41,964 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,647. About 10.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in the town of Big Piney is provided by Sublette County School District #9. Schools serving the town include Big Piney Elementary School (grades K-5), Big Piney Middle School (grades 6–8), and Big Piney High School (grades 9–12).

See also

• List of municipalities in Wyoming

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 14, 2012.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Profile for Big Piney, Wyoming, WY". ePodunk. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
7. "Wardell Buffalo Trap". Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved August 4, 2009.^{[ dead link ]}
8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
9. "Sundance Channel | Comrades in Dreams". Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
12. "Big Piney Page".
13. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
14. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service.
15. "Period of Record Climate Summary". Western Regional Climate Center.
16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

• Town of Big Piney
• Chamber of Commerce
• Local area information
• Sublette County information