Moving to Ranchester, Wyoming

Ranchester is located in the Northwestern part of Wyoming, in Sheridan County. It is situated along the Tongue River and has an elevation of 4,534 feet. The city has a semi-arid climate and is characterized by cold winters and warm summers. The average high temperatures range from 19 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average low temperatures range from -6 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The area receives an average of 17 inches of precipitation annually.

Ranchester was first settled in 1882 by James Ranchester, who named the town after himself. Since then, the city has grown steadily and currently has a population of about 1,200 people. Politically, Ranchester is part of Wyoming’s House District 21 and Senate District 22.

The economy of Ranchester is dominated by agriculture and ranching activities. Agriculture forms the main source of income for many families living in the area and includes crops such as wheat, barley, hay, corn and alfalfa. In addition to this, there are some small businesses operating within the city limits that offer services such as restaurants, retail stores and auto repair shops.

Ranchester is served by two public schools – Tongue River Elementary School (grades K-5) and Tongue River Middle School (grades 6-8). Both schools offer a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for college or careers upon graduation. There are also several private schools in the area that cater to different student needs including Montessori education programs.

The most popular landmark in Ranchester is Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site which commemorates one of the bloodiest battles between Native Americans and U.S soldiers during Red Cloud’s War in 1866-1868. Other landmarks include historical sites like Bozeman Trail Segment State Historic Site which marks a section of John Bozeman’s trail used during gold rush days; Bighorn National Forest which features scenic mountain views; Lake De Smet which offers boating opportunities; Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark; Little Goose Creek State Wildlife Area; Piney Creek State Wildlife Area; Beartooth Mountains Scenic Byway; Bighorn National Recreation Area; Clear Creek Canyon Overlook Nature Trail; Devils Tower National Monument; Big Dry Creek Wildlife Management Area; Shell Falls Recreation Area; Terry Bison Ranch Resort & Adventure Park among many others that attract tourists from all around the region throughout year round.

Population: 701. Estimated population in July 2024: 717 (+2.3% change)
Males: 339 (48.4%), Females: 362 (51.6%)

Sheridan County

Zip code: 82839

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.7 years
Median household income: $36,094
Median house value: $94,100

Population by Race

Races in Ranchester:

• White Non-Hispanic (88.2%)
• American Indian (7.4%)
• Hispanic (4.3%)
• Two or more races (2.4%)
• Other race (1.3%)

Ancestries: German (28.4%), Irish (18.0%), English (12.6%), Norwegian (10.0%), Polish (4.9%), United States (4.1%).

Elevation: 3760 feet

Land area: 0.6 square miles

Population by Education

Ranchester, Wyoming is a small rural town located in the northeastern part of the state. The population of Ranchester is approximately 1,500 people and it has been steadily growing over the past few years. The majority of the population is Caucasian with a small percentage of African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. There are also a few Native Americans living in the area. The median age for Ranchester is 36 years old and most of the residents have lived in Ranchester for at least 10 years.

The economy in Ranchester is mainly based on agriculture, with some light manufacturing and retail shops as well. Most of the jobs are related to farming or ranching, such as cattle and sheep herding, crop production, hay baling, and other agricultural activities. The town also has a few businesses centered around tourism such as restaurants and hotels that cater to visitors coming to explore the nearby mountains or take part in outdoor activities like fishing or hiking.

Ranchester is home to many local organizations that promote community involvement and education such as 4-H clubs, church groups, volunteer fire departments, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts troops, sports teams/leagues for both adults and children alike. Residents are also active in civic organizations like Rotary International and Lions Club International which help support local charities and projects throughout the year. There are two public schools located in town – an elementary school with grades K-5th grade and a middle school with grades 6th-8th grade – both of which serve students from all over Ranchester’s surrounding townships.

For population 25 years and over in Ranchester

• High school or higher: 91.6%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.3%
• Graduate or professional degree: 3.6%
• Unemployed: 6.3%
• Mean travel time to work: 26.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Ranchester town

• Never married: 21.2%
• Now married: 57.0%
• Separated: 0.4%
• Widowed: 7.8%
• Divorced: 13.6%

1.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +20 (+2.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Ranchester:

• MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SHERIDAN COUNTY (about 16 miles; SHERIDAN, WY)
• JOHNSON CO MEMORIAL HOSP (about 54 miles; BUFFALO, WY)
• SOUTH BIG HORN COUNTY HOSPITAL-CAH (about 67 miles; GREYBULL, WY)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Ranchester:

• SHERIDAN COUNTY (about 17 miles; SHERIDAN, WY; Abbreviation: SHR)
• WORLAND MUNI (about 86 miles; WORLAND, WY; Abbreviation: WRL)
• BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (about 113 miles; BILLINGS, MT; Abbreviation: BIL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Ranchester:

• JOHNSON COUNTY (about 49 miles; BUFFALO, WY; Abbreviation: BYG)
• FORT SMITH LANDING STRIP (about 60 miles; FORT SMITH, MT; Abbreviation: 5U7)
• FAIRGROUNDS AIRPARK (about 64 miles; HARDIN, MT; Abbreviation: F02)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Ranchester:

• MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS (about 108 miles; BILLINGS, MT; Full-time enrollment: 3,105)
• CASPER COLLEGE (about 151 miles; CASPER, WY; Full-time enrollment: 2,564)
• BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 230 miles; SPEARFISH, SD; Full-time enrollment: 3,190)
• UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING (about 239 miles; LARAMIE, WY; Full-time enrollment: 9,665)
• MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN (about 264 miles; BOZEMAN, MT; Full-time enrollment: 10,380)
• SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY (about 279 miles; RAPID CITY, SD; Full-time enrollment: 2,002)
• CHADRON STATE COLLEGE (about 322 miles; CHADRON, NE; Full-time enrollment: 2,144)

Public primary/middle schools in Ranchester:

• TONGUE RIVER ELEMENTARY (Students: 166; Location: 124 DAYTON ST.; Grades: KG – 05)
• TONGUE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 115; Location: 1251 DAYTON ST.; Grades: 06 – 08)