Kemmerer is the largest city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. Its population was 2,415 at the 2020 census.

History

Explorer John C. Frémont discovered coal in the area during his second expedition in 1843. The Union Pacific Coal Company opened the first underground mine in 1881 after construction of the Oregon Short Line Railroad from Granger to Oregon. Patrick J. Quealy (1857–1930) immigrated from Ireland, founded Kemmerer as an "independent town" in 1897 when he was vice-president of the Kemmerer Coal Company, located 6 mi south of the original townsite. He named the company and town after his financial backer, Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer (1843–1925). In 1950, the operation converted to strip mining and became the world's largest open pit coal mine. In 1980 the Kemmerer Coal Co. was sold to the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Westmorland Coal Company. The pit remains in operation with an annual output of about 5 million tons. Quealy sold lots in the townsite rather than lease them, which permitted the establishment of independent businesses. The company's subsidiary, Frontier Supply Company, provided electricity by utilizing a used $1,150 generator acquired in Utah. In Wyoming, he and his wife became active in Democratic Party politics and in St. Patrick's Church, for which the company donated land. Quealy was the founding president of the First National Bank, established in 1900. Kemmerer Savings Bank was founded in 1909. Its president Asbury D. Hoskins was manager of the Blyth-Fargo-Hoskins Company, and was elected Wyoming state treasurer in 1919. The J. C. Penney company store was founded in Kemmerer in 1902. TerraPower selected Kemmerer, Wyoming as the site for a 345 MWe reactor using a molten salt energy storage system. The reactor can temporarily boost output to 500 MWe, enabling the plant to integrate with renewable resources. In June 2024 the site broke ground, beginning preparation for the as-yet unapproved reactor. It is estimated to cost $4 billion, with the DOE supplying half of that cost, and Gates contributing $1 billion of his money.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.81 sqmi, of which 7.80 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi is water. The Fossil Butte National Monument is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, on U.S. Highway 30.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Kemmerer has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Kemmerer was 99 °F on July 12, 1990, while the coldest temperature recorded was -39 °F on December 22, 1990.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 2,415 people, 1,251 households, and 538 families living in the city. The population density was 309.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,454 housing units at an average density of 186.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, >.1% African American, .8% Native American, >.7% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population. There were 1,251 households, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.8% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 12.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,656 people, 1,078 households, and 704 families living in the city. The population density was 340.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,265 housing units at an average density of 162.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 3.9% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population. There were 1,078 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age in the city was 38.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.2% male and 47.8% female.

Economy

Naughton Power Plant is a 400 MW coal-fired power station supplemented by 380 MW gas, located on the southwest edge of Kemmerer. The plant employs 230 people, and is scheduled to stop burning coal in 2026, and gas in 2036. In 2021, TerraPower announced it would open a sodium-cooled nuclear power plant in Kemmerer in 2028, at an estimated cost of $4 billion. The company plans to employ workers from Naughton Power Plant, and started clearing the site in 2024 to be ready for construction if/when a license is obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Education

Kemmerer is located within Lincoln County School District #1, which includes Canyon Elementary School, New Frontier High School and Kemmerer High School. Teresa Chaulk is the Superintendent of Schools. Kemmerer has a public library, a branch of the Lincoln County Library System.

Notable people