Teton County, Wyoming

Coordinates: 43°55′N 110°34′W / 43.92°N 110.57°W / 43.92; -110.57
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teton County
George Washington Memorial Park (Jackson, Wyoming)
Flag of Teton County
Map of Wyoming highlighting Teton County
Location within the U.S. state of Wyoming
Map of the United States highlighting Wyoming
Wyoming's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°55′N 110°34′W / 43.92°N 110.57°W / 43.92; -110.57
Country United States
State Wyoming
FoundedFebruary 15, 1921 (authorized)
1922 (organized)
Named forTeton Range
SeatJackson
Largest townJackson
Area
 • Total4,216 sq mi (10,920 km2)
 • Land3,995 sq mi (10,350 km2)
 • Water221 sq mi (570 km2)  5.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total23,331
 • Density5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional districtAt-large
Websitewww.tetonwyo.org

Teton County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 23,331.[1] Its county seat is Jackson.[2] Its west boundary line is also the Wyoming state boundary shared with Idaho and the southern tip of Montana. Teton County is part of the Jackson, WY-ID Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Teton County contains the Jackson Hole ski area, all of Grand Teton National Park, and 40.4% of Yellowstone National Park's total area, including over 96.6% of its water area (largely in Yellowstone Lake).[3]

History[edit]

Teton County was created February 15, 1921, from a portion of Lincoln County. Its governing organization was completed in 1922.[4] The county was named for the Teton Range.[5] The county was created because the inhabitants lived too far away from Kemmerer, the county seat of Lincoln County. The creation of the county required a special act of the Wyoming Legislature, because the area was too poor and had too few people to qualify for county status under the normal requirements.

Geography[edit]

Snake River Overlook and the Teton Range, Teton County
Fishing Cone Geyser and Yellowstone Lake

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,216 square miles (10,920 km2), of which 3,995 square miles (10,350 km2) is land and 221 square miles (570 km2) (5.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties[edit]

National protected areas[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19302,003
19402,54327.0%
19502,5932.0%
19603,06218.1%
19704,82357.5%
19809,35594.0%
199011,17219.4%
200018,25163.4%
201021,29416.7%
202023,3319.6%
2023 (est.)23,232[7]−0.4%
US Decennial Census[8]
1870–2000[9] 2010–2016[1]

2000 census[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census[10] there were 18,251 people, 7,688 households, and 4,174 families in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 10,267 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.93% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. 6.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.2% were of German, 14.2% English, 11.7% Irish and 6.7% American ancestry.

There were 7,688 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.70% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

The county population contained 19.90% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 38.30% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 6.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,614, and the median income for a family was $63,916. Males had a median income of $34,570 versus $29,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $38,260. About 2.80% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 4.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,294 people, 8,973 households, and 4,938 families in the county.[11] The population density was 5.3 people per square mile (2.0 people/km2). There were 12,813 housing units at an average density of 3.2 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 88.4% white, 1.1% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.0% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 22.2% were German, 14.9% were English, 13.0% were Irish, and 11.1% were American.[13]

Of the 8,973 households, 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 45.0% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 36.9 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $70,271 and the median income for a family was $90,596. Males had a median income of $40,594 versus $36,715 for females. The per capita income for the county was $42,224. About 5.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Economy[edit]

Home prices by county (2021)
  <$100,000
  $200,000
  $300,000
  $400,000
  $500,000
  $600,000
  $700,000+

A 2019 Bloomberg L.P. report (citing Bureau of Economic Analysis figures) found that Teton had the highest average incomes per capita of any county in the United States, at $252,000. This was partly attributed to the high incomes of Jackson Hole residents, where property owners include Bill Gates.[15]

As of the fourth quarter of 2021, the median home price in Teton County was $1,060,093, an increase of 17.8% from the prior year.[16]

Communities[edit]

The Jackson Hole Mountain Academy, Jackson campus

Town[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

Liz Skalka of the Huffpost described Teton as a "liberal county" in August 2022.[17] Previously a staunchly Republican county, which produced Governor and U.S. Senator Clifford Hansen, a mass immigration of wealthy liberals from the West Coast has made Teton County the most Democratic county in Wyoming, which is one of the most Republican states in the nation. The only Republican presidential candidate since 1992 to win Teton County was George W. Bush in 2000 who had county resident Dick Cheney on the ticket. In the 2008 election, Barack Obama carried Teton County by a 23.6 percentage point margin over John McCain, with McCain winning statewide by a 32.2 percentage point margin over Obama, his widest margin in any state. Albany County, which includes the University of Wyoming at Laramie, was the only other county in the state to have backed Obama. In 2004, Teton was the only Wyoming county won by John F. Kerry over George W. Bush.[18] In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by 57.9%–31.1%.[19] In 2020, Joe Biden beat Donald Trump by 37.5%, the largest margin for a Democrat ever in the county.[20] The county has, however, voted at times for Republican candidates for the governorship and United States Senate. Most recently, the county voted for Republican Mark Gordon for governor in 2022, although by the slimmest margin of any county in Wyoming.

United States presidential election results for Teton County, Wyoming[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,341 29.58% 9,848 67.10% 488 3.32%
2016 3,921 31.05% 7,314 57.92% 1,392 11.02%
2012 4,858 42.38% 6,213 54.20% 393 3.43%
2008 4,565 37.07% 7,472 60.67% 279 2.27%
2004 5,124 45.11% 5,972 52.58% 263 2.32%
2000 5,454 52.29% 4,019 38.53% 958 9.18%
1996 3,918 43.54% 4,042 44.92% 1,038 11.54%
1992 2,854 34.05% 3,120 37.22% 2,408 28.73%
1988 3,616 61.02% 2,217 37.41% 93 1.57%
1984 3,487 67.85% 1,565 30.45% 87 1.69%
1980 3,004 57.64% 1,361 26.11% 847 16.25%
1976 2,667 67.40% 1,204 30.43% 86 2.17%
1972 2,182 70.03% 810 25.99% 124 3.98%
1968 1,419 69.25% 461 22.50% 169 8.25%
1964 1,081 52.76% 968 47.24% 0 0.00%
1960 1,158 66.51% 583 33.49% 0 0.00%
1956 1,089 77.73% 312 22.27% 0 0.00%
1952 1,166 78.62% 317 21.38% 0 0.00%
1948 719 55.78% 556 43.13% 14 1.09%
1944 637 56.07% 499 43.93% 0 0.00%
1940 623 46.05% 728 53.81% 2 0.15%
1936 501 37.06% 795 58.80% 56 4.14%
1932 406 36.41% 699 62.69% 10 0.90%
1928 495 64.29% 270 35.06% 5 0.65%
1924 342 54.63% 173 27.64% 111 17.73%

Education[edit]

Teton County School District Number 1 is the school district for the entire county.[22]

In prior eras, a portion of the county was not in any school district.[23]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "HISTORICAL DECENNIAL CENSUS POPULATION FOR WYOMING COUNTIES, CITIES, AND TOWNS". Wyoming Economic Analysis Division. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  4. ^ Long, John H., ed. (2004). "Wyoming: Individual County Chronologies". Wyoming Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  5. ^ Urbanek, Mae (1988). Wyoming Place Names. Missoula MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87842-204-8.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Decennial Census Population for Wyoming Counties, Cities, and Towns". Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Division of Economic Analysis. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Tanzi, Alexandre; Lu, Wei; Sasso, Michael (November 29, 2019). "The Richest U.S. Counties Are Getting Even Richer". Bloomberg News.
  16. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  17. ^ Skalka, Liz (August 16, 2022). "Wyoming Democrats Back Liz Cheney In Her Home County". HuffPost. Retrieved October 27, 2022. Teton County, home to Jackson, a new playground for the ultra-rich set against a breathtaking natural landscape, is unlike anywhere else in this heavy mining and agricultural state. It's Wyoming's bluest county, meaning voters here are more likely to be Democrats who voted for Cheney, an uncommon phenomenon that Cheney's campaign encouraged.
  18. ^ Leip, Dave. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  19. ^ "2016 election results: Wyoming". www.cnn.com. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  20. ^ Walkey, Will (November 6, 2020). "As Wyoming Goes Further Right, Teton County Continues Pushing Left". KHOL. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Leip, Dave. US Election Atlas 2016 Presidential General Election Results – Wyoming: Teton County (and earlier years)
  22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Teton County, WY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2024. - Text list - 2010 map
  23. ^ "School Districts (Map), State of Wyoming" (PDF). Wyoming Department of Revenue, Property Tax Division. March 8, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2006. Retrieved January 3, 2010.

Further reading[edit]

  • Farrell, Justin. Billionaire wilderness: the ultra-wealthy and the remaking of the American West (Princeton UP, 2020) online review

External links[edit]

43°55′N 110°34′W / 43.92°N 110.57°W / 43.92; -110.57