Town sees small population increase

According to information from the State of Wyoming Economic Analysis Division, Thermopolis saw an increase of 14 people, or 0.5 percent, from 2016 to 2017. The population estimate for July 1, 2016, was 2,916, while the 2017 estimate was 2,930.

The slight increase occurred in other locations in that timeframe as well, with East Thermopolis increasing from 247 to 249, or 0.8 percent, and Kirby going from 89 to 90, or 1.1 percent. The overall average for Hot Springs County was an increase of 10, or 0.7 percent.

However, the past seven years have shown a declining population trend. From April 1, 2010 until July 1, 2017 Thermopolis has seen steady drops in population, with estimates of 3,007 in 2010, 3,006 in 2011, 3,021 in 2012 and 2013, 2,992 in 2014 and 2,945 in 2015. The overall change has been a loss of 79 people, or 2.6 percent.

The negative seven-year trend stretches across the county. East Thermopolis estimates of 254 in ’10 and ’11, 255 in ’12, 256 in ’13, 254 in ’14 and 250 in ’15. Kirby’s trend has been 92 in ’10, ’11, ’12 and ’13, 91 in ’14 and 90 in ’15. East Thermopolis saw a drop of five people, or two percent, and Kirby had a loss of two people, or 2.2 percent.

Looking at the July 2016 to July 2017 population changes, Thermopolis was ranked sixth in the report for population change and fourth for percentage change.

Cities that lost the most residents in Wyoming between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017 are located in regions with large proportion of mineral extraction activities or services, according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. These estimates provide a look at how population has changed in each of Wyoming’s incorporated places since the 2010 Census.

For cities and towns with population over 2,000, Afton is the only place that demonstrated an annual growth rate of 1.0 percent, followed by Laramie at 0.7 percent, and Thermopolis and Cody at 0.5 percent.

The state’s most populous city, Cheyenne, added 23 persons. Ten cities and towns experienced population losses of at least 1.5 percent, led by Gillette’s decrease of 5.4 percent or 1,730 residents. After a loss of over 1,000 residents in 2016, Casper’s population shrunk again by 1,092 in 2017.

As of July 1, 2017, 68.6 percent, or 397,682 people in Wyoming lived in incorporated places. Over 47 percent of the State’s residents lived in ten cities with population of more than 10,000.

Because of the downturn in the energy industry, Wyoming’s total population in 2017 was 5,595 less than the previous year, or down one percent, the largest decline since 1989. However, the contraction rate in the 99 cities and towns, in combination, was 1.2 percent during the same period.