Torrington is a city in and the county seat of Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 6,119 at the 2020 census, down from 6,501 at the 2010 census.

It is the home of Eastern Wyoming College, and is the surrounding region's center of commercial activity. Within this primarily agricultural community, there are several fertilizer plants, a former sugar beet factory which closed in 2019, and numerous tourist facilities and retail businesses that serve the local and nearby rural populations.

History

thumb|left|190px|Ruts made by early [[American pioneer|pioneer's wagons on the historic Oregon Trail in the late 19th Century in Eastern Wyoming (2007 photo)]]

thumb|left|190px|Vintage photo of early 20th Century resident of the [[American West|West using horses to pull his "horseless carriage" while "fording" a river]]

Situated on the historic Mormon Trail and near the Oregon and California trails along the banks of the North Platte River, Torrington was founded in 1900 by W. G. Curtis (1857–1913), and named by him for his home town of Torrington, Connecticut. Originally a watering and coaling station for the CB&Q Railroad, which began passenger service in 1900, the town was a gathering place for nearby farmers and ranchers. In 1905, the first bridge was constructed over the North Platte River.

A post office called Torrington was established in 1889 on Curtis' farm three miles west of the future town, with Curtis serving as postmaster and later as mayor. In 1908, the town incorporated in Laramie County. It had a bank, three general stores, a pharmacy with a soda fountain, a land office, and two hotels (for one of which the building, although modified, still exists at 1841 Main Street.) (which was still published in 2015) was established in 1911. The preserved historic Union Pacific Depot building now houses the Goshen County Homesteaders Museum. still held twice-weekly livestock auctions in 2015. It is the largest livestock auction operation and barn in Wyoming, and ranks as the third to fifth largest livestock auction in the United States. Drawing cattle from a nine-state region (Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana and the bulk of Wyoming) the Torrington livestock auction barn attracts buyers from all over the nation. And, , Goshen County ranked number one in Wyoming for its cattle inventory.

Today, when traveling between Torrington and Guernsey, Wyoming, motorists will be following the path of the historic Oregon and Mormon Trail as they make their way along the banks of the North Platte River past the site of the 1854 Grattan Massacre near Lingle, and past the historic western 19th-Century U.S. Army Cavalry outpost, Fort Laramie National Historic Site. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Its elevation is .

Climate

Torrington, situated on the North Platte River, has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification 'BSk').

Demographics

thumb|right|The historic [[California Trail|California, Mormon, Oregon & Bozeman Trails headed to Fort Laramie and further on into the American West, all passed through Torrington along the banks of the North Platte River]]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Torrington had a population of 6,119. The median age was 42.0 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 114.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 115.0 males age 18 and over.

89.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 10.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,379 households in Torrington, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.7% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 6,501 people, 2,527 households, and 1,506 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 1.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.3% of the population.

There were 2,527 households, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.83.

thumb|left|200px|Torrington and [[Goshen County, Wyoming|Goshen County are home to a large population of Ring-necked Pheasants]]

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.5% male and 47.5% female.

2000 census

At the census

The Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) is located in Torrington. WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for male inmates not sentenced to death. It was opened on January 6, 2010, and the first 75 inmates to be housed there arrived on January 13, 2010. By 2015, it housed over 300 inmates.

Education

thumb|right|Prize [[sheep lined up for judging at a County Fair]]

Public education in Torrington is provided by Goshen County School District#1. Zoned campuses include Lincoln Elementary School (grades K–2), Trail Elementary School (grades 3–5), Torrington Middle School (grades 6–8), and Torrington High School (grades 9–12).

Other towns and communities included in the consolidated Goshen County School District include Lingle, LaGrange, Huntley, and Yoder, among others.

Eastern Wyoming College, located in Torrington, is a two-year community college serving the area, with outreach centers serving Platte, Niobrara, Converse, Weston and Crook counties.

Torrington has a public library, the Goshen County Library.

Infrastructure

Highways

U.S. Highways

  • 20px U.S. Highway 26 East (Scottsbluff Road)
  • 20px U.S. Highway 26 West (Yellowstone Road)
  • 20px U.S. Highway 85 North (Lingle/Jay Em Road)
  • 20px U.S. Highway 85 South (Cheyenne Road)

State Routes

Airport

Torrington Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) east of the central business district of Torrington.

Public transport

Goshen County Senior Friendship Center provides paratransit services in Torrington on weekdays.

Notable people

  • Edward Buchanan (born 1967), former state legislator and Torrington lawyer; Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 2011 to 2012
  • Stephanie Burns (born 1955), Organosilicon chemist, businesswoman
  • William Curtis, founded Torrington in 1889
  • Stanley Hathaway (1924–2005), 27th Governor of Wyoming, 1967–1975; 40th U.S. Secretary of the Interior, 1975
  • Jerry Hill (born 1939), former University of Wyoming and NFL football player (Baltimore Colts 1961–1970; Super Bowls III and V)
  • Michael Punke (born 1964), Author of The Revenant
  • Leslie ZumBrunnen (1908–1997), politician

See also

  • List of municipalities in Wyoming

References

  • City of Torrington, official website
  • Torrington History, Wyoming Tales and Trails
  • Torrington, Wyoming is a small town