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Powell, Wyoming
Downtown Powell, Wyoming, July 2015
Downtown Powell, Wyoming, July 2015
Flag of Powell, Wyoming
Flag
Location of Powell in Park County, Wyoming.
Location of Powell in Park County, Wyoming.
Powell, Wyoming is located in Wyoming
Powell, Wyoming
Powell, Wyoming
Location in Wyoming
Powell, Wyoming is located in the United States
Powell, Wyoming
Powell, Wyoming
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Wyoming
County Park
Area
 • Total 4.29 sq mi (11.11 km2)
 • Land 4.29 sq mi (11.11 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
4,393 ft (1,339 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,419
 • Estimate 
(2023)
6,488
 • Density 1,440.56/sq mi (556.27/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−6 (MDT)
ZIP code
82435
Area code(s) 307
FIPS code 56-62450
GNIS feature ID 1609143

Powell (/pæl/) is a city in Park County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 6,419 at the 2020 census. Powell is an All-America City and home to Northwest College.

History

Heart mt 012107 (18)
Heart Mountain and surrounding mountains covered in snow, January 2007

Powell was incorporated in 1909. Powell was named for John Wesley Powell, U.S. soldier, geologist and explorer. Powell post office was established January 23, 1908.

In 2013, the area was the subject of a piece of national legislation. The Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act (S. 130; 113th Congress), which was passed by both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, would transfer a piece of land from the Bureau of Land Management to the Powell Recreation District for continued use as a shooting range.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 2,463
1930 1,156 −53.1%
1940 1,948 68.5%
1950 3,804 95.3%
1960 4,740 24.6%
1970 4,807 1.4%
1980 5,310 10.5%
1990 5,292 −0.3%
2000 5,373 1.5%
2010 6,314 17.5%
2020 6,419 1.7%
2023 (est.) 6,488 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,314 people, 2,463 households, and 1,449 families living in the city. The population density was 1,485.6 inhabitants per square mile (573.6/km2). There were 2,627 housing units at an average density of 618.1 units per square mile (238.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 2.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.4% of the population.

There were 2,463 households, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.2% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 31.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 19% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.25 square miles (11.01 km2), all land.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Powell has a cold desert climate, abbreviated "BWk" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Powell was 104 °F (40 °C) on June 10, 1988, and July 16, 2002, while the coldest temperature recorded was −34 °F (−37 °C) on December 22, 1990.

Climate data for Powell, Wyoming (Powell Field Station), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 63
(17)
69
(21)
77
(25)
85
(29)
93
(34)
104
(40)
104
(40)
102
(39)
96
(36)
88
(31)
75
(24)
69
(21)
104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 52.4
(11.3)
55.5
(13.1)
68.5
(20.3)
78.5
(25.8)
84.8
(29.3)
92.4
(33.6)
96.5
(35.8)
95.6
(35.3)
90.9
(32.7)
79.4
(26.3)
64.4
(18.0)
54.6
(12.6)
97.5
(36.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 31.5
(−0.3)
35.9
(2.2)
48.3
(9.1)
56.9
(13.8)
65.9
(18.8)
76.0
(24.4)
85.2
(29.6)
83.7
(28.7)
73.0
(22.8)
57.6
(14.2)
43.1
(6.2)
32.6
(0.3)
57.5
(14.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 18.8
(−7.3)
23.0
(−5.0)
33.9
(1.1)
42.6
(5.9)
52.8
(11.6)
61.6
(16.4)
68.8
(20.4)
66.7
(19.3)
56.9
(13.8)
43.4
(6.3)
30.0
(−1.1)
20.4
(−6.4)
43.2
(6.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 6.1
(−14.4)
10.1
(−12.2)
19.6
(−6.9)
28.4
(−2.0)
39.6
(4.2)
47.1
(8.4)
52.4
(11.3)
49.7
(9.8)
40.8
(4.9)
29.2
(−1.6)
17.0
(−8.3)
8.2
(−13.2)
29.0
(−1.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −12.4
(−24.7)
−7.1
(−21.7)
3.4
(−15.9)
15.4
(−9.2)
26.8
(−2.9)
37.5
(3.1)
44.0
(6.7)
40.4
(4.7)
29.3
(−1.5)
14.4
(−9.8)
0.2
(−17.7)
−7.8
(−22.1)
−17.4
(−27.4)
Record low °F (°C) −27
(−33)
−33
(−36)
−22
(−30)
−3
(−19)
18
(−8)
31
(−1)
30
(−1)
32
(0)
16
(−9)
−5
(−21)
−18
(−28)
−34
(−37)
−34
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.18
(4.6)
0.18
(4.6)
0.26
(6.6)
0.57
(14)
1.22
(31)
1.33
(34)
0.77
(20)
0.42
(11)
0.76
(19)
0.70
(18)
0.21
(5.3)
0.10
(2.5)
6.70
(170)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.6
(6.6)
1.8
(4.6)
1.7
(4.3)
0.8
(2.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.1
(2.8)
1.6
(4.1)
1.5
(3.8)
11.2
(28.45)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 3.0 2.9 3.1 5.9 8.6 8.0 5.7 4.8 5.1 4.5 3.0 2.8 57.4
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.3 2.4 1.1 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 1.5 1.5 10.9
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service

Economy

Carillon with fall foliage
Carillon with fall foliage, October 2003

Powell was originally established as a cattle ranching community. Oil reserves were found in the late-19th century, prompting the CB&Q Railroad (later BNSF), to extend a line into Powell. In the early 20th century, the Homestead Acts and the Shoshone Project contributed greatly to agricultural development in the Bighorn Basin. Mineral extraction and agriculture are still the key industries of Powell, with sugar beets, barley, and pinto beans being the most commonly grown cash crops. Beef production remains an important facet of the Powell economy, as well. When the local department store in Powell closed, the community raised $400,000 and established the Powell Mercantile, a community-owned store.

Education

Powell has a public library, a branch of the Park County Library System.

Public K–12 education is administered by Park County School District No. 1, and includes 4 K–5 elementary schools (one of which is located in Clark, WY), Powell Middle School, Powell High School, and the Shoshone Learning Center, an alternative high school. Northwest College, a public two-year residential college, is located in the Northern portion of Powell. Several 4-year degrees are available at Northwest through the University of Wyoming's extended campus.

Media

Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming summer 2015 08
Northwest College, July 2015

Newspapers

The Powell Tribune is the local twice-weekly paper, founded in 1909. The Cody Enterprise and Billings Gazette are also available in Powell.

AM radio

  • KZMQ (AM) 1140 country
  • KPOW 1260 country
  • KODI 1400 news/talk

FM radio

  • KFGR 88.1 Christian
  • KUWP 90.1 Wyoming Public Radio and NPR, University of Wyoming
  • KTAG 97.9 adult contemporary
  • KROW 101.1 active rock
  • KZMQ-FM 100.3 country
  • KBEN-FM 103.3 classic country
  • KCGL 104.1 classic rock
  • KWHO 107.1 80s, 90s & current

Television

Four television stations are available in Powell: KTVQ (CBS) and KULR (NBC) from Billings, KTWO (ABC) of Casper and PBS station K19LM-D, a local translator for KCWC-DT in Lander.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Powell (Wyoming) para niños

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