Douglas (Wyoming)
Converse County
56-21125
Douglas is a city in Converse County, Wyoming, United States. There live 5288 people in Douglas. It is the administrative seat of Converse County. Douglas is located on the North Platte River and is named after the former U.S. Senator Stephen Arnold Douglas.
History
The city was founded in 1886 as a breakpoint here was built by the Wyoming Central Railway, later the Chicago and North Western Railway. Since the construction of about 20 kilometers from Fort Fetterman in 1867 already was here a small settlement called Tent City. By rail accessibility, the small settlement grew into a city that in 1910 had about 2240 inhabitants. In 1996, Douglas was included in the book The 100 Best Small Towns in America by Norm Crampton instead of 72.
Geography
The city lies at an altitude of about 1474 meters, the surface on extending the city is 13.6 km ². 13.2 km ² of which are land and 0.4 km ² water, which are 2.67% of the total area.
Transport links
Interstate 25 runs west of the city and connects with the Douglas about 70 kilometers west located Casper and some 200 kilometers south Cheyenne. Through the city's railroad line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs on the 1950 since the years just goods, especially coal, are transported. Just north of town is the airfield Converse County Airport.
Demography
According to a survey of 2000 5288 people living in 2118 households and 1423 families. The population density is 403.6/km ². 94.1 % of the population is white, 6.64% are Hispanics and Latinos, 0.78% are Native American, and 0.07 % are African American.
Attractions
The Wyoming State Fair, the Agricultural Fair of the State of Wyoming takes place every year in summer in Douglas place and is known for its rodeo and animal competitions.
In Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum there is a collection of relics of the Native Americans and pioneers.
The former station building of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad is added to the National Register of Historic Places of the United States. The building now houses the Chamber of Commerce ( Chamber of Commerce) of Douglas and the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center with an exhibition on the history of railways in the city. On the former station square are seven historic railway carriages and a steam locomotive with tender which can be visited.
In the wider area, the Laramie Mountains extend to the visible from afar highest peak of the mountain range, the Laramie Peak as part of the Medicine Bow National Forest. Furthermore, the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the Ayres Natural Bridge Park, a protected area with a natural bridge over the LaPrele Creek is located nearby.
About 25 kilometers south-east of the city lies the Glendo State Park. There, the North Platte River from Glendo Dam is dammed to form a lake. The park offers many opportunities for recreational activities, especially water sports and fishing.