Kemmerer, Wyoming

Kemmerer, Wyoming
City
Kemmerer (2003)
Motto:  "An Aquarium in Stone"
Location within Lincoln County and Wyoming
Coordinates: 41°47′22″N110°32′47″W / 41.78944°N 110.54639°W / 41.78944; -110.54639
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
County	Lincoln
Area [1]
• Total	7.81 sq mi (20.22 km2)
• Land	7.80 sq mi (20.20 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	6,949 ft (2,118 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,415
• Density	352.39/sq mi (136.06/km2)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code	83101
Area code	307
FIPS code	56-42005 [2]
GNIS feature ID	1590317 [3]
Website	kemmerer.org

Kemmerer is the largest city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. ^[4] Its population was 2,415 at the 2020 census.

History

Explorer John C. Frémont discovered coal in the area during his second expedition in 1843. The Union Pacific Coal Company opened the first underground mine in 1881 after construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad from Granger to Oregon. ^[5]

Patrick J. Quealy (1857–1930) immigrated from Ireland, founded Kemmerer as an "independent town" in 1897 when he was vice-president of the Kemmerer Coal Company, located 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the original townsite. He named the company and town after his financial backer, Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer (1843–1925). In 1950, the operation converted to strip mining and became the world's largest open pit coal mine. In 1980 the Kemmerer Coal Co. was sold to the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Westmorland Coal Company. ^[6] The pit remains in operation with an annual output of about 5 million tons.

Quealy sold lots in the townsite rather than lease them, which permitted the establishment of independent businesses. The company's subsidiary, Frontier Supply Company, provided electricity by utilizing a used $1,150 generator acquired in Utah. In Wyoming, he and his wife became active in Democratic Party politics and in St. Patrick's Church, for which the company donated land.

Quealy was the founding president of the First National Bank, established in 1900. Kemmerer Savings Bank was founded in 1909. Its president Asbury D. Hoskins was manager of the Blyth-Fargo-Hoskins Company, and was elected Wyoming state treasurer in 1919.

The J. C. Penney company store was founded in Kemmerer in 1902. ^[7]

TerraPower selected Kemmerer, Wyoming as the site for a 345 MWe reactor using a molten salt energy storage system. The reactor can temporarily boost output to 500 MWe, enabling the plant to integrate with renewable resources. ^[8] In June 2024 the site broke ground, beginning preparation for the as-yet unapproved reactor. ^[9] It is estimated to cost $4 billion, with the DOE supplying half of that cost, and Gates contributing $1 billion of his money. ^[10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.81 square miles (20.23 km²), of which 7.80 square miles (20.20 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water. ^[11]

The Fossil Butte National Monument is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, on U.S. Highway 30.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Kemmerer has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Kemmerer was 99 °F (37 °C) on July 12, 1990, while the coldest temperature recorded was −39 °F (−39 °C) on December 22, 1990. ^[12]

Climate data for Kemmerer, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1990–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	48 (9)	55 (13)	69 (21)	77 (25)	86 (30)	93 (34)	99 (37)	95 (35)	91 (33)	78 (26)	68 (20)	64 (18)	99 (37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	42.2 (5.7)	45.1 (7.3)	56.6 (13.7)	69.0 (20.6)	76.5 (24.7)	84.4 (29.1)	89.1 (31.7)	87.9 (31.1)	82.9 (28.3)	72.7 (22.6)	57.8 (14.3)	45.9 (7.7)	89.3 (31.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	31.0 (−0.6)	33.6 (0.9)	42.5 (5.8)	52.2 (11.2)	62.8 (17.1)	73.4 (23.0)	82.8 (28.2)	81.1 (27.3)	71.6 (22.0)	57.4 (14.1)	42.1 (5.6)	31.4 (−0.3)	55.2 (12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	16.6 (−8.6)	18.5 (−7.5)	27.8 (−2.3)	36.8 (2.7)	46.7 (8.2)	55.0 (12.8)	62.7 (17.1)	60.9 (16.1)	52.0 (11.1)	40.0 (4.4)	27.4 (−2.6)	17.0 (−8.3)	38.4 (3.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	2.2 (−16.6)	3.3 (−15.9)	13.2 (−10.4)	21.4 (−5.9)	30.7 (−0.7)	36.6 (2.6)	42.5 (5.8)	40.7 (4.8)	32.4 (0.2)	22.7 (−5.2)	12.7 (−10.7)	2.7 (−16.3)	21.8 (−5.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−17.4 (−27.4)	−16.2 (−26.8)	−6.5 (−21.4)	9.5 (−12.5)	19.2 (−7.1)	27.3 (−2.6)	34.9 (1.6)	32.0 (0.0)	22.4 (−5.3)	9.2 (−12.7)	−6.2 (−21.2)	−17.4 (−27.4)	−23.6 (−30.9)
Record low °F (°C)	−30 (−34)	−31 (−35)	−25 (−32)	−7 (−22)	11 (−12)	19 (−7)	28 (−2)	21 (−6)	17 (−8)	−19 (−28)	−25 (−32)	−39 (−39)	−39 (−39)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.69 (18)	0.60 (15)	0.65 (17)	0.66 (17)	1.38 (35)	0.94 (24)	0.50 (13)	0.86 (22)	0.97 (25)	0.84 (21)	0.65 (17)	0.67 (17)	9.41 (241)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	11.6 (29)	9.6 (24)	6.1 (15)	3.0 (7.6)	1.4 (3.6)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.4 (1.0)	1.8 (4.6)	6.2 (16)	9.5 (24)	49.7 (125.05)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.9	4.2	4.2	4.4	5.5	4.0	3.2	3.5	4.3	4.3	4.5	5.5	52.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	4.2	3.9	2.7	1.5	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.2	3.4	4.6	22.4
Source 1: NOAA [13]
Source 2: National Weather Service [12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	843		—
1920	1,517		80.0%
1930	1,884		24.2%
1940	2,026		7.5%
1950	1,667		−17.7%
1960	2,028		21.7%
1970	2,292		13.0%
1980	3,273		42.8%
1990	3,020		−7.7%
2000	2,651		−12.2%
2010	2,656		0.2%
2020	2,415		−9.1%
2023 (est.)	2,393		−0.9%
[14]

2020 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2020, there were 2,415 people, 1,251 households, and 538 families living in the city. The population density was 309.2 inhabitants per square mile (119.4/km²). There were 1,454 housing units at an average density of 186.2 per square mile (71.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, >.1% African American, .8% Native American, >.7% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population.

There were 1,251 households, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.8% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 12.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

2010 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2010, there were 2,656 people, 1,078 households, and 704 families living in the city. The population density was 340.5 inhabitants per square mile (131.5/km²). There were 1,265 housing units at an average density of 162.2 per square mile (62.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 3.9% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population.

There were 1,078 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% 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 3.03.

The median age in the city was 38.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.2% male and 47.8% female.

Economy

Naughton Power Plant

Naughton Power Plant is a 400 MW coal-fired power station supplemented by 380 MW gas, ^[17] located on the southwest edge of Kemmerer. ^[18] The plant employs 230 people, and is scheduled to stop burning coal ^[19] in 2026, and gas in 2036. ^[20]

In 2021, TerraPower announced it would open a sodium-cooled nuclear power plant in Kemmerer in 2028, at an estimated cost of $4 billion. ^[21] The company plans to employ workers from Naughton Power Plant, ^{[22] [23]} and started clearing the site in 2024 to be ready for construction if/when a license is obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ^{[24] [25] [26]}

Education

Kemmerer is located within Lincoln County School District #1, ^[27] which includes Canyon Elementary School, New Frontier High School and Kemmerer High School. Teresa Chaulk is the Superintendent of Schools. ^[28]

Kemmerer has a public library, a branch of the Lincoln County Library System. ^[29]

Notable people

• John Buck (born 1980), former MLB catcher
• Jerry Buss (1933–2013), owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, lived in Kemmerer as a teenager
• William L. Carlisle (1890–1964), one of America's last train robbers, lived in Kemmerer after his release from prison in 1936
• Edgar Herschler (1918–1990), governor of Wyoming from 1975 to 1986
• James Cash Penney (1875–1971), founder of the J.C. Penney chain of stores
• Mollie Hemingway (c. 1974), journalist, was raised in Kemmerer
• Nancy F. Peternal, state legislator

See also

• Fossil Butte National Monument
• Kemmerer Municipal Airport

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 January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. "Historic Kemmerer". Wyoming Tales and Trails. Archived from the original on March 27, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2006.
6. Maio, Pat (September 13, 2024). "Kemmerer Coal Mine Sold To Southern California Real Estate Company". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
7. "JCPenney Store / Home". City of Kemerer Wyoming. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
8. Wang, Brian (August 30, 2022). "Korea Invests in Bill Gates TerraPower". NextBigFuture.com. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
9. McDermott, Jennifer (June 10, 2024). "In Wyoming, Bill Gates moves ahead with nuclear project aimed at revolutionizing power generation". AP News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
10. Manuel, Obed; Innskeep, Steve (June 14, 2024). "Bill Gates is going nuclear: How his latest project could power U.S. homes and AI". NPR . Gates has invested $1 billion into a nuclear power plant that broke ground in Kemmerer, Wyo., this week. The new facility, designed by the Gates-founded TerraPower, will be smaller than traditional fission nuclear power plants and, in theory, safer because it will use sodium instead of water to cool the reactor's core. TerraPower estimates the plant could be built for up to $4 billion,...
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
12. "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
13. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
14. "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of State / U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 14, 2012.
17. "Naughton | Coal Plant in Kemmerer, WY". www.gridinfo.com.
18. Richards, Heather (December 16, 2019). "With a declining market for its coal, a Wyoming town deals with something new: uncertainty". Casper Star Tribune.
19. Siegler, Kirk; Scott, Aaron; McCoy, Berly (March 24, 2022). "Can Nuclear Power Save A Struggling Coal Town?". NPR News | Short Wave. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
20. "Bill Gates' TerraPower breaks ground on nuclear power project in Kemmerer, Wyoming". KUER. June 10, 2024.
21. Pollack, Nicole (May 5, 2023). "Bill Gates introduces himself to Kemmerer, Wyoming". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
22. McCombs, Brady; Gruver, Mead (January 18, 2022). "In tiny Wyoming town, Bill Gates bets big on nuclear power". Associated Press.
23. Bleizeffer, Dustin (June 10, 2023). "From decline to boom, a Wyoming community struggles to transition". WyoFile. Wyoming News Exchange. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
24. "TerraPower breaks ground on SMR project in Wyoming" (Press release). Nuclear NewsWire. June 11, 2024.
25. "TerraPower, LLC -- Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 Application". NRC Web. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. May 22, 2024.
26. "US SFR Owner, LLC.; Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1; Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping Process and Prepare Environmental Impact Statement". Federal Register. June 12, 2024.
27. Lincoln County School District Number 1
28. "Lincoln County School District #1". Lincoln County School District #1. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
29. "Wyoming Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.

External links

• City of Kemmerer
• Kemmerer Chamber of Commerce