Evanston, Wyoming

Evanston, Wyoming
City
Panorama of downtown Evanston along Front Street
Motto(s):  Fresh Air, Freedom and Fun
Location of Evanston in Uinta County, Wyoming.
Coordinates: 41°16′5.81″N 110°57′47.65″W
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
County	Uinta
Founded	November 1868
Incorporated	1869
Government [1]
• Mayor	Kent Williams
• City Clerk/Executive Assistant	Diane Harris
• Councilmembers	Tim Lynch Jennie Hegeman Jesse Lind Mike Sellers Evan Perkes David Welling
Area [2]
• City	10.305 sq mi (26.690 km^2)
• Land	10.265 sq mi (26.587 km^2)
• Water	0.040 sq mi (10.474 km^2)
Elevation [3]	6,749 ft (2,057 m)
Population  (2020)[4]
• City	11,747
• Estimate  (2023)[5]	11,807
• Density	1,150.73/sq mi (444.29/km^2)
• Urban	11,416
• Metro	23,415 (US: 485th)
Time zone	UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP Codes	82930, 82931
Area code	307
FIPS code	56-25620
GNIS feature ID	1588345[3]
Highways	I-80, US-189, SR-89 and SR-150
Sales tax	5.0%[6]
Website	evanstonwy.org

Evanston is a city in and the county seat of Uinta County, Wyoming, United States.^[7] The population was 11,747 at the 2020 census.^[4] It is located near the border with Utah.

History

The Evanston Roundhouse

Evanston was named after James A. Evans,^[8] a civil engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad. Another source maintains it is named for John Evans, second Governor of the Territory of Colorado.^[9] The town was founded during the construction of the first transcontinental railroad. The railroad arrived in the area in November 1868, and Harvey Booth opened a saloon/restaurant in a tent near what is now Front Street. By December the rails had reached Evanston and the first train arrived December 16. However, orders were later handed down by the railroad managers to move the end of the line 12 miles west, to Wahsatch. Within three days, most all of Evanston had moved to Wasatch. It appeared that Evanston would become another "end of the tracks" town. In June 1869 headquarters returned to Evanston and it continued to grow.^[10] Later in 1871, a machine shop and roundhouse were constructed, giving Evanston a longevity not shared by many other railroad towns.^[11]

Abundant timber and water along the Bear River made Evanston a refueling station for cross-country locomotives. Coal was mined in Almy, a few miles north of Evanston. Similar to other railroad towns in Wyoming, early Evanston had a large population of Chinese Railroad Workers – in Evanston they lived on the north side of the railroad tracks in a small "China town." Over time, the Chinese population dwindled; the last two members of the first generation of immigrants died in the 1930s.^[11]

Evanston was a major stop on the Lincoln Highway. The highway ran east to west from East Service Rd to Bear River Dr, on Front St to Harrison Dr, to Wasatch Rd southwest to Echo Canyon in Utah. It can still be seen along Interstate 80, which follows the railroad tracks in this area.

Evanston underwent massive growth and change during an oil boom in the 1980s. Recent drilling for natural gas has also revitalized the economy of the area. Union Tank Car works on railroad tank cars near the Union Pacific Railroad Complex, locally referred to as the old roundhouse.^[12] There are restored railroad buildings, including a roundhouse, in the downtown area.^[13] One of the more recent restorations include 1011 Front Street. This building, located in historic downtown Evanston, is across the street from the museum in Depot Square. Another restoration project included the rebuilding of the Joss house in Depot Square in 1990; the original had been destroyed in a fire in 1922.^[14]

Geography

Evanston is located at 41°16′5.81″N 110°57′47.65″W (41.2682794, -110.9632373). The elevation is 6,749 feet (2,057 m) above sea level.^[3]

Interstate 80/US-189 and State Routes 89 and 150 serve the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 10.305 square miles (26.69 km²), of which 10.265 square miles (26.59 km²) is land and 0.040 square miles (0.10 km²) is water.^[2]

Evanston has a continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold, dry winters and short, warm, slightly more humid summers.

Climate data for Evanston, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	57 (14)	70 (21)	75 (24)	82 (28)	88 (31)	94 (34)	99 (37)	94 (34)	93 (34)	80 (27)	69 (21)	64 (18)	99 (37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	44.8 (7.1)	47.5 (8.6)	59.5 (15.3)	69.7 (20.9)	76.1 (24.5)	83.7 (28.7)	89.1 (31.7)	86.5 (30.3)	80.4 (26.9)	72.8 (22.7)	60.0 (15.6)	48.4 (9.1)	89.5 (31.9)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	32.6 (0.3)	34.5 (1.4)	44.1 (6.7)	53.1 (11.7)	63.1 (17.3)	73.2 (22.9)	81.2 (27.3)	79.6 (26.4)	70.7 (21.5)	57.9 (14.4)	43.3 (6.3)	32.7 (0.4)	55.5 (13.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	21.8 (−5.7)	24.0 (−4.4)	32.6 (0.3)	40.2 (4.6)	48.9 (9.4)	57.1 (13.9)	64.4 (18.0)	63.2 (17.3)	54.7 (12.6)	43.7 (6.5)	31.2 (−0.4)	21.9 (−5.6)	42.0 (5.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	11.1 (−11.6)	13.4 (−10.3)	21.1 (−6.1)	27.2 (−2.7)	34.6 (1.4)	40.9 (4.9)	47.6 (8.7)	46.7 (8.2)	38.6 (3.7)	29.5 (−1.4)	19.1 (−7.2)	11.1 (−11.6)	28.4 (−2.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−8.5 (−22.5)	−6.8 (−21.6)	3.5 (−15.8)	14.1 (−9.9)	23.0 (−5.0)	30.3 (−0.9)	37.7 (3.2)	36.9 (2.7)	26.1 (−3.3)	14.5 (−9.7)	−0.5 (−18.1)	−7.2 (−21.8)	−14.0 (−25.6)
Record low °F (°C)	−35 (−37)	−38 (−39)	−30 (−34)	−7 (−22)	9 (−13)	19 (−7)	24 (−4)	23 (−5)	5 (−15)	−8 (−22)	−22 (−30)	−34 (−37)	−38 (−39)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.84 (21)	0.60 (15)	0.74 (19)	0.98 (25)	1.89 (48)	1.13 (29)	0.77 (20)	1.10 (28)	1.17 (30)	1.15 (29)	1.04 (26)	0.71 (18)	12.12 (308)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	13.2 (34)	8.1 (21)	5.0 (13)	2.0 (5.1)	1.0 (2.5)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.3 (0.76)	1.6 (4.1)	6.1 (15)	9.8 (25)	47.3 (120.97)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	5.1	6.1	5.1	7.1	7.1	5.7	4.3	5.9	5.4	5.7	5.9	6.1	69.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	4.6	3.9	2.0	0.9	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.9	4.1	4.1	21.0
Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)[15][16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	77		—
1880	1,277		1,558.4%
1890	1,995		56.2%
1900	2,110		5.8%
1910	2,583		22.4%
1920	3,479		34.7%
1930	3,075		−11.6%
1940	3,605		17.2%
1950	3,863		7.2%
1960	4,901		26.9%
1970	4,462		−9.0%
1980	6,265		40.4%
1990	10,903		74.0%
2000	11,507		5.5%
2010	12,359		7.4%
2020	11,747		−5.0%
2023 (est.)	11,807	[5]	0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[18] 1870–2020 Censuses[19] 2020 Census[4]

2020 census

Evanston, Wyoming – racial and ethnic composition^[20]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	9,440	80.4%
Black or African American (NH)	44	0.4%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	72	0.6%
Asian (NH)	79	0.7%
Pacific Islander (NH)	18	0.2%
Some Other Race (NH)	55	0.5%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	422	3.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1,617	13.8%
Total	11,747	100.0%

As of the 2020 census, there were 11,747 people, 4,555 households, and 2,980 families residing in the city.^[21] The population density was 1,141.7 inhabitants per square mile (440.8/km²). There were 5,166 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White, 0.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other races and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.8% of the population.^[22]

There were 4,555 households. 48.8% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% had a female householder with no husband present. The average family size was 3.30.

The median age in the city was 36.0. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were between the ages of 25 and 44; 21.9% were between the ages of 45 and 64; and 13.9% were 65 and older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.

2022 American Community Survey (ACS)

There are 4,628 households accounted for in the 2022 ACS, with an average of 2.51 persons per household. The city's a median gross rent is $726 in the 2022 ACS. The 2022 ACS reports a median household income of $70,825, with 72.3% of households are owner occupied. 6.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line (down from previous ACS surveys). The city boasts a 68.0% employment rate, with 17.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.3% holding a high school diploma.^[23]

The top 23 reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (28.7%), German (13.7%), American (12.8%), European (3.4%), Welsh (2.9%), Norwegian (2.3%), Scottish (2.3%), Scandinavian (1.7%), Irish (1.4%), Swedish (1.4%), Italian (1.2%), French Canadian (1.1%), French (1.0%), British (0.8%), Czech (0.7%), Nigerian (0.5%), Portuguese (0.4%), Northern European (0.4%), Scotch-Irish (0.4%), Swiss (0.3%), Austrian (0.2%), Dutch (0.2%), Basque (0.09%), and Polish (0.09%).

The median age in the city was 35.7 years.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 12,359 people, 4,540 households, and 3,135 families living in the city. The population density was 1,203.7 inhabitants per square mile (464.8/km²). There were 5,111 housing units at an average density of 497.7 inhabitants per square mile (192.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.8% White, 0.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.3% of the population.

There were 4,540 households, of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.21.

The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,507 people, 4,058 households, and 2,937 families living in the city. The population density was 1,123.2 inhabitants per square mile (433.7/km²). There were 4,665 housing units at an average density of 455.4 inhabitants per square mile (175.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.29% Euro American, 0.16% African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.15% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.29% of the population.

There were 4,058 households, out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,019, and the median income for a family was $47,220. Males had a median income of $35,843 versus $21,710 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,725. About 9.1% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Religion in the 2010 census

The town's religious adherents are:

• Other – 47.7%
• None – 39.3%
• Evangelical Protestant – 6.9%
• Catholic – 3.8%
• Mainline Protestant – 2.3%

Arts and culture

Evanston hosts a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo annually during the Cowboy Days event at the Uinta County Fairgrounds.^[24][25]

National Register of Historic Places

Nine locations in or near Evanston are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including:

• Bridger Antelope Trap
• Downtown Evanston Historic District
• A.V. Quinn House
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• Uinta County Courthouse
• Union Pacific Railroad Complex
• US Post Office – Evanston Main
• Wyoming State Insane Asylum
• Brigham Young Oil Well

Tourism

The Uinta County Museum is located on Depot Square in downtown Evanston. Originally built as a Carnegie library in 1906, the building is an example of Classical Revival architecture.^[26][27]

A replica of a Chinese Joss house is located on Depot Square. The Joss House contains a scale model of Evanston's original Chinatown, as well as other artifacts from the 19th and 20th centuries. Near the Joss House is the Wing Family Gazebo and Garden. Former Evanston resident and structural engineer Wayman Wing built a Chinese pavilion, and the City of Evanston constructed a garden with a pond and walking path next to the pavilion.^[26]

The Bear River State Park is located adjacent to Interstate 80 on the eastern outskirts of Evanston. The park offers wildlife viewing, a visitors center, picnic grounds, and hiking trails. A trail along the river connects to the Bear River Greenway in Evanston.

Sports and recreation

The City of Evanston Parks and Recreation department operates about 20 facilities. Bear River Greenway is located near downtown, and offers a river walk that extends to Bear River State Park, ice skating in the winter, fishing in the summer, boat rentals, and a fitness trail. Sulphur Creek Reservoir offers boating and fishing. Smaller parks throughout the city contain basketball courts, soccer fields, horseshoe rings, tennis courts, sand volleyball, and playgrounds.^[28] The city Recreation Center has a swimming pool and an indoor shooting range. It also provides classes and programming in such sports as martial arts, gymnastics, football, and soccer.^[29]

Government and infrastructure

The Wyoming Department of Health Wyoming State Hospital, a psychiatric facility,^[30] is located in Evanston.^[31][32] The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.^[33]

The United States Postal Service operates the Evanston Post Office.^[34]

• 
  Wyoming State Hospital
• 
  Evanston Roundhouse and Railyards Complex

Education

Public education in the city of Evanston is provided by Uinta County School District #1. The district operates a total of eight campuses, including four elementary schools (Aspen, Clark, North, and Uinta Meadows) serving grades kindergarten through five, two middle schools (Davis and Evanston) serving grades six through eight, one high school (Evanston) serving grades nine through twelve, and one secondary alternative school (Horizon). There is also a BOCES community college there as a branch of the Western Wyoming Community College in the city.

Evanston has a public library, a branch of the Uinta County Library System.^[35]

Notable people

• Jaycee Carroll (born 1983), basketball player^[36]
• Clarence D. Clark (1851–1930), United States Representative and United States Senator from Wyoming; resident of Evanston^[37]
• Mark Hopkinson (1949–1992), convicted murderer executed in 1992; born in Evanston
• Dana Perino (born 1972), White House Press Secretary, 2007–2009; born in Evanston
• Brady Poppinga (born 1979), former NFL linebacker
• Kelly Poppinga (born 1982), former NFL linebacker; special teams coordinator and defensive end coach at Brigham Young University^[38]
• Winston Watts (born 1967), Jamaican bobsledder, resident of Evanston, four-time Olympian^[39]
• Ah Yuen(1850–1939), one of the first Chinese immigrants to live in Evanston; also known as "China Mary".^[40]

References

1. "Mayor & Council Members". City of Evanston, Wyoming. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
2. "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Evanston, Wyoming
4. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
6. "Evanston (WY) sales tax rate". Retrieved October 11, 2024.
7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
8. Dobson, G. B. "Building the Union Pacific". Wyoming Tales and Trails. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
9. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 122.
10. "Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office – National Register of Historic Places – Search Result". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
11. "Evanston, Wyoming Chamber of Commerce: History". Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
12. Buller, Erin (October 28, 2008). "Union Tank Car celebrates 10 years at new facility". Uinta County Herald. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
13. "Roundhouse Restoration, Inc". Retrieved November 10, 2008.
14. Jones, Erin (June 7, 2019). "The Prairie Chinatown That Disappeared". Wyoming Public Media. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
15. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Evanston 1 E, WY (1991–2020)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
16. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Evanston 1 E, WY (1981–2010)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
17. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Salt Lake City". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
18. "Census of Population and Housing". census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
19. "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of State / U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Evanston city, Wyoming". data.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
21. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
22. "How many people live in Evanston city, Wyoming". USA Today. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
23. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Evanston city, Wyoming". www.census.gov. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
24. "Cowboy Days". City of Evanston, Wyoming. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
25. "Evanston Cowboy Days". Pro Rodeo. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
26. "7 Unexpected Treasures Hiding in Historic Downtown Evanston". KUTV. May 18, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
27. "Uinta County Museum". Uinta County, Wyoming. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
28. "City Parks". City of Wyoming Parks and Recreation. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
29. "Recreation Center". Evanston, Wyoming Parks and Recreation. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
30. "WDH Who We Are – Wyoming State Hospital Archived July 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." Wyoming Department of Health. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
31. "WDH Directory^{[permanent dead link]}." Wyoming Department of Health. Retrieved on December 12, 2010. "Physical Address: 831 Hwy 150 S, Evanston, WY 82931-0177" (State Hospital)
32. "Evanston city, Wyoming^{[permanent dead link]}." United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
33. "About the Department of Corrections." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
34. "Post Office Location – EVANSTON Archived June 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
35. "Wyoming Public Libraries". PublicLibraries.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
36. "2007–2008 Men's Basketball Roster". Utah State Aggies. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
37. "CLARK, Clarence Don, (1851–1930)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
38. "Kelly Poppinga". BYU Cougars. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
39. Mitchell, Jennifer (February 4, 2014). "How This 46-Year-Old Olympic Bobsledder Inspires Us". Next Avenue. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
40. ahcadmin (February 8, 2021). "Wyoming's China Mary". American Heritage Center (AHC) #AlwaysArchiving. Retrieved October 27, 2023.

External links

• City of Evanston – official website
• "Evanston. A city and the county-seat of Uinta County, Wyo" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.