Basin, Wyoming

Basin is a town in and the county seat of Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2020 census. The community is located near the center of the Bighorn Basin with the Big Horn River east of the town. Basin's post office, built in 1919, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Winfield S. Collins founded "Basin City" in 1896 as the county seat for newly created Big Horn County. The first building was home to the "Basin City Herald". Collins was the first mayor.

Climate

Basin has a cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification 'BWk').

The town had the highest temperature ever recorded in Wyoming, , on August 8, 1983, and also holds the state record high temperatures for April ( in 1948) and July ( in 1900).

In general, the eastern portion of the Bighorn Basin is hotter than the rest of Wyoming during the summer months. Due to frequent low humidity, daily temperature ranges are large, whilst due to the very dry conditions snowfall is among the lightest in the northern Rockies and Plains region – it is not uncommon for no measurable precipitation to fall in a month between September and April. There are an average of 49.4 days annually with highs of or higher, 5.4 days greater than and an average of 176.2 nights with lows of or lower. The all-time record low for Basin was on February 5, 1899. The wettest calendar year in Basin was 2011 with and the driest 1902 with . The most precipitation in one month was in June 1967. The most precipitation in 24 hours was on June 29, 1909. The most snowfall in one season was between July 1958 and June 1959, whilst the most snow in one month was during September 1984.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,285 people, 520 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 571 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 94.2% White, 0.5% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 520 households, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 46.4 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Government

Basin has a mayor and town council. There are four council members. In 2026 CJ Duncan was mayor.

The United States Postal Service operates the Basin Post Office.

Arts and culture

Basin is known as the "lilac town".

Education

Public education in the town of Basin is provided by Big Horn County School District #4. The district has three schools across a single campus – Laura Irwin Elementary School (grades K-5), Riverside Middle School (grades 6–8), and Riverside High School (grades 9–12). The middle school and high school both operate under one building, which is adjacent to the elementary school building.

Health services

The Wyoming Department of Health Wyoming Retirement Center, a nursing home, is located in Basin. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.