Gillette, Wyoming

Gillette is a small city situated in Campbell County in the US State of Wyoming. Often referred to as the "Energy Capital of the Nation," Gillette is centrally placed in a region where massive amounts of American coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas are being developed. Besides being the county's major economic hub, Gillette also serves as a regional center for arts, health, and education.

Geography And Climate Of Gillette

Gillette, Wyoming, as seen from Overlook Park. Image Credit: Mr. Satterly, via Wikimedia Commons

Gillette comprises 49.13 sq. km of land and 0.08 sq. km of water. Gillette is located in the Powder River Basin and is nestled between the Bighorn Mountains and the Black Hills. Gillette had few trees when it was initially established. The native box elder and cottonwood trees can be spotted along the waterways. The oldest non-native trees that are still standing were planted in the 1940s. Elm, cottonwood, white poplar, green ash, Colorado blue spruce, and Ponderosa pine are some of the oldest trees.

According to the Köppen climate classification, Gillette experiences a semiarid climate, with a yearly average temperature of 45.7°F. The year's hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 71.3°F, whereas January is the coldest, having an average temperature of 24.2°F. Gillette receives 13.9 inches of precipitation on average each year. There are 35.4 days of rain in a year's worth of liquid precipitation, with May seeing the most rain with 5.3 days and February seeing the least with 1.6 days.

History Of Gillette

Gillette College Main Building and bridge over Donkey Creek in Gillette, Wyoming. Image Credit: Mr. Satterly, via Wikimedia Commons

A little tent village located to the west of where Gillette is now was the site of the first settlement in the region that would eventually become Gillette. Survey teams from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad used this place, which came to be known as Donkey Town, as a temporary base camp in the late 1880s as they were preparing to build a line through Northeast Wyoming. Edward Gillette, an engineer and surveyor was in charge of mapping the region.

The initial plan was to proceed south of present-day Gillette along Donkey Creek, but Edward Gillette discovered a quicker path that spared the Railroad about thirty bridges and five miles of track. The Railroad appreciated the savings and decided to honor Edward Gillette by renaming the new town in his honor. The town of Gillette was planned, and lots were auctioned in July 1891 by the Lincoln Area and Livestock Company, the owner of a significant part of the Railroad's land. In 1892, Gillette became a city, and Herbert A. Alden was chosen as the mayor.

The Population And Economy Of Gillette

Wyoming Highway 59 as seen from Interstate 90 in Gillette, Wyoming. Image Credit: Mr. Satterly, via Wikimedia Commons

As per the latest US Census, Gillette has 33,403 residents, where 48.6% are females and 51.4% are males. Gillette's ethnic groups include 85.2% White (non-Hispanic/Latino), 9.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1% African-American, and 0.1% Asian. The remaining are distributed among American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and mixed races. English is spoken by 93.7% of the population. The rest speak Spanish (5.8%), Indo-European languages (0.1%), Asian and Pacific Islander languages (0.2%), and other foreign languages (0.2%). Only 45.9% of the population in Gillette are naturalized US citizens. Veterans make up 8.9% of Gillette's population, of which 81.8% are males and 18.2% are females.

The employment rate in Gillette is 67.8%, with a poverty rate of 12.9%. The homeownership rate is 71.8%, where the median gross rent cost is $830 per month, with a median household income of $73,867. The job market in Gillette has decreased by -0.8% over the past few years. The future job growth in Gillette is expected to be 1.8% during the next ten years.

Attractions In and Around Gillette

Eagle Butte Coal Mine

Eagle Butte Mine as seen from the visitor overlook platform in Campbell County, Wyoming. Image Credit: Mr. Satterly, via Wikimedia Commons

Without exploring Gillette's energy resources, one's trip will fall short. Eagle Butte Coal Mine provides an educational tour about the energy generation that keeps the town running. One can observe the operation of incredible machinery and the laborious Wyoming people's coal mining procedure. Through this tour, one can also comprehend the significance of Wyoming's energy sector.

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower is revered by many Native American tribes and is a captivating site for tourists. The monument, which protrudes above the nearby grasslands and rises 386 m above the Belle Fourche River, is an unusual and interesting geological feature. One can walk, climb, and check out the bookshop and informational exhibits at the visitor center.

Campbell County Rockpile Museum

There are several rocks at this local museum, which gets its name from the Rockpile, a famous rock structure. However, Gillette and Campbell County's history and culture are the main focus of this museum. It features historical mining, ranching, and homesteading relics, as well as information on the contemporary mining business in the area. One can also view a movie on coal mining or check out a temporary exhibit to learn more about the Powder River Basin's cultural past.

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