Welcome to Gillette and Wright, Wyoming — the two incorporated communities in Campbell County. They are located in northeast Wyoming, midway between the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains, on the rolling plains of the ancient Powder River Basin.
An energy-centered community
The 2008 page described Gillette as the “Energy Capital of the Nation” because of oil reserves, natural-gas production, electrical power plants and the many coal mines that then produced more than thirty percent of the nation’s coal for electrical generation. It said Campbell County’s energy-related economy provided a rich quality of life and many possibilities for employment and career opportunities.
Production shares and civic descriptions change over time. The United States Energy Information Administration provides current national and regional energy statistics.
Population in the 2008 Data Center
The companion Data Center placed community population first. It recorded Gillette at 17,635 residents in 1990, 22,865 in 2005, 27,533 in 2006 and 30,636 in 2007, with a 2012 projection of 30,833. Wright was listed at 1,236 in 1990, 1,425 in 2005 and 1,485 in 2006, with a 2012 projection of 1,672. Campbell County was listed at 29,370 in 1990, 37,405 in 2005, 38,934 in 2006 and 40,433 in 2007, with a 2012 projection of 41,394.
Climate and outdoor life
The Data Center said Gillette and Campbell County offered year-round outdoor recreation. Hiking, biking, fishing and boating were associated with spring and summer; fall and winter brought snowmobiling, skiing, sledding and snowman building. Its thirty-year averages listed an annual temperature of 57 degrees, a January average of 31, a July average of 85, annual precipitation of 17.14 inches, annual snowfall of 64.7 inches and a 127-day growing season.
Housing, education and community services
The 2006 homepage described a tight housing market while several subdivisions were being approved and developers worked to provide entry-level housing. The 2008 Data Center also reported period sales, rentals and utility costs.
The Data Center described a countywide school district spanning roughly 5,000 square miles. It recorded twenty-four school facilities and 1,323 full- and part-time employees, including certified and non-certified staff.
How the original page organized community life
The 2008 navigation divided community information into culture, education, entertainment, health, recreation, housing, shopping and youth. Together, those categories connected economic development with daily life in Gillette, Wright and the surrounding county.