Burns, Wyoming Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published January 15, 2019 · Updated September 5, 2024

Burns, Wyoming is a small city located in the Northeastern corner of the state. It is situated at the base of the Big Horn Mountains near the border of South Dakota. The city has a population of about 1,000 people and covers approximately 1.2 square miles.

The climate in Burns is semi-arid with hot summers and cold winters. The average high temperature during July and August is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit while the average low temperature during January and February is around 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation is light throughout the year, but snowfall can be heavy during winter months.

Burns was founded in 1883 by settlers looking to establish a homestead in the area. In its early days, it was an agricultural community with many farms producing wheat and other grains for commercial sale. Over time, as people moved away from agriculture and into other industries, Burns began to transition into a more service-oriented economy with businesses providing goods and services to local residents as well as visitors passing through town on their way to surrounding areas.

The politics of Burns are largely conservative with most residents voting for Republican candidates in elections. While there are some independent voters in town, most tend to lean towards one party or another when it comes to politics.

The economy of Burns relies heavily on tourism due to its location near popular vacation spots such as Yellowstone National Park, Big Horn National Forest, Devil’s Tower National Monument, and Grand Teton National Park. Many businesses cater to tourists coming through town while others provide services for locals such as restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and retail stores.

There are two schools located within Burns: an elementary school serving grades K-5 and a middle school serving grades 6-8th grade students who go on to attend high school elsewhere in Wyoming or South Dakota depending on which district they live in. Both schools have excellent reputations for providing quality education that prepares students for college or career paths after graduation.

Finally, some of the landmarks located within Burns include an old wooden jailhouse that dates back to 1884 (now a museum) as well as several historic buildings such as churches from 1885 and 1895 that are still standing today along Main Street in downtown Burns; these buildings serve as reminders of what life was like during earlier days when this area was wilder than it is today.

Population: 285. Estimated population in July 2024: 310 (+8.8% change)
Males: 134 (47.0%), Females: 151 (53.0%)

Laramie County

Zip code: 82053

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.3 years
Median household income: $31,875
Median house value: $72,800

Population by Race

Races in Burns:

White Non-Hispanic (95.8%)
Hispanic (2.1%)
American Indian (2.1%)
Other race (1.8%)
Two or more races (1.4%)

Ancestries: German (37.2%), Irish (13.7%), English (11.9%), United States (10.2%), French (4.6%), Scotch-Irish (3.2%).

Elevation: 5516 feet

Land area: 3.1 square miles

Map of Burns, WY

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Burns

High school or higher: 92.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
Unemployed: 9.1%
Mean travel time to work: 25.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Burns town

Never married: 16.1%
Now married: 68.3%
Separated: 0.0%
Widowed: 6.3%
Divorced: 9.4%

0.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +24 (+9.2%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Burns:

UNITED MEDICAL CENTER (about 31 miles; CHEYENNE, WY)
KIMBALL COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 49 miles; KIMBALL, NE)
NORTH COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER (about 58 miles; GREELEY, CO)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Burns:

CHEYENNE (about 31 miles; CHEYENNE, WY; Abbreviation: CYS)
FORT COLLINS-LOVELAND MUNI (about 68 miles; FORT COLLINS/LOVELAND, CO; Abbreviation: FNL)
WESTERN NEB. RGNL/WILLIAM B. HEILIG FIELD (about 71 miles; SCOTTSBLUFF, NE; Abbreviation: BFF)

Other public-use airports nearest to Burns:

PINE BLUFFS MUNI (about 17 miles; PINE BLUFFS, WY; Abbreviation: 82V)
KIMBALL MUNI/ROBERT E ARRAJ FIELD (about 48 miles; KIMBALL, NE; Abbreviation: IBM)
GREELEY-WELD COUNTY (about 56 miles; GREELEY, CO; Abbreviation: GXY)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Burns:

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO (about 60 miles; GREELEY, CO; Full-time enrollment: 10,983)
AIMS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 63 miles; GREELEY, CO; Full-time enrollment: 3,722)
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 92 miles; Fort Collins, CO; Full-time enrollment: 22,684)
METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER (about 100 miles; DENVER, CO; Full-time enrollment: 12,938)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT DENVER (about 100 miles; DENVER, CO; Full-time enrollment: 8,839)
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (about 100 miles; DENVER, CO; Full-time enrollment: 7,592)
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER (about 100 miles; DENVER, CO; Full-time enrollment: 3,352)

Schools

Public high school in Burns:

BURNS JR & SR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 216; Location: 305 E COUNTY ROAD 213; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Burns:

WEST ELEMENTARY (Students: 158; Location: 327 S MAIN; Grades: KG – 06)

Libraries

Burns, Wyoming is a small town with a population of just over 300. It is home to two public libraries, the Burns Public Library and the Burns Community Library. The Burns Public Library was established in 1956 and has been providing library services to the citizens of Burns for over 60 years. It is located in the heart of town and offers a wide variety of books, magazines, newspapers, audio books, DVDs, and other media for residents to borrow or purchase. The library also offers free Wi-Fi access and computers with internet access for patrons to use while they are visiting. The staff at the Burns Public Library are friendly and knowledgeable and are always willing to help patrons find what they need or answer any questions they may have.

The Burns Community Library was established in 2010 as part of the public school system in Burns. This library serves as a resource for students attending schools within the district as well as members of the public who wish to take advantage of its resources. It contains an extensive collection of books related to education, research materials related to specific subject areas such as science or history, periodicals and newspapers from around the world, and audio-visual materials including CDs, DVDs, and video games. The library also offers free Wi-Fi access for patrons who wish to use their own devices while visiting and has several computers available for those who need them.