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59-634: In 1864 the commandant of Fort Laramie , Colonel William O. Collins, concerned about the hostilities along the Bozeman Trail, asked Jim Bridger to lead a party of settlers from Denver on a new route to the mines through the Big Horn Basin along the western edge of the Big Horn Mountains . In 1859, Bridger had guided a topographical expedition through the area, and knew the region well. The road ran approximately 425 miles (684 km), paralleling

118-665: A brutal Wyoming blizzard. In the late 1860s, the fort was the primary staging ground for the United States in the Powder River Country during Red Cloud's War . In 1868 the parties reached a peace agreement codified as the second Treaty of Fort Laramie . The discovery of gold in the Black Hills touched off another period of conflict with the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne , as the United States violated their previous promise to keep

177-499: A cheaper material that could provide needed insulation in the cold climate. Alongside adobe bricks, many buildings are made using concrete and some wood use as well. This use of multiple building materials gives Fort Laramie a unique aesthetic Built in 1849, Old Bedlam is the oldest known U.S. military structure in Wyoming and Fort Laramie's most commonly noted building. Old Bedlam served as the original officer quarters for Fort Laramie. It

236-530: A family was $ 62,859. Males had a median income of $ 47,610 versus $ 30,664 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 28,235. About 5.4% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. Like almost all of Wyoming, Natrona is a heavily Republican county. It is rather conservative for an urban county, having gone Republican in all but three elections since 1944. No Democratic presidential candidate has won forty percent of

295-687: A few years later the transcontinental railway joined the two American sea coasts and train travel largely replaced the overland travel along the Emigrant Trails. The fort was purchased from Bruce Husband, a member of the American Fur Company, for $ 4,000 in June 1849 by US Army Lt. Daniel P. Woodbury on behalf of the United States Government . Three companies of cavalry arrived at the fort that same month, and Company 'G', 6th Infantry, which

354-626: A partner in the company. The 1846 treaties established relatively stable western territories after viable routes west had become well published. By the time the westward migration along the Oregon Trail had markedly increased, the US Army had become tenants in the fort as well. The fort was located along the Laramie River just south of its mouth onto the North Platte River . On the opposite bank,

413-400: A virtual monopoly on the western fur trade. Starting as early as the fall of 1840, the American Fur Company began competing with the newly-established Fort Platte , built by Lancaster Lupton about a mile away from Fort William. The American Fur Company hired workers from Santa Fe to construct an adobe fort to replace Fort William. This fort was named Fort John, after John Sarpy, a partner in

472-531: Is Casper . Natrona County comprises the Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area . In 2010, the center of population of Wyoming was in Natrona County, near Alcova . Prior to Wyoming's settlement by European-based populations, the area's stretches played host to nomadic tribes such as Cheyenne , Arapaho , Shoshone , and Sioux . New York investor John Jacob Astor established the settlement of Astoria on

531-614: Is located in Big Horn County near U.S. Route 14 / 16 / 20 at Bridger Butte. The Waltman crossing at 43°4′20″N 107°12′41″W  /  43.07222°N 107.21139°W  / 43.07222; -107.21139 is in Natrona County where the Bridger Road crosses U.S. 20/ U.S. Route 26 near Sand Draw and Waltman Draw. The sites encompass 5 acres (2.0 ha) each. The Dry Creek Crossing and Waltman Crossing site were placed on

590-471: The 11th Ohio Cavalry , serving until they were mustered out in 1866. Between October 1864 and October 1866 at least two companies from various units of " Galvanized Yankees " (Confederate prisoners of war recruited in the Union Army) were stationed at Fort Laramie. On Christmas night in 1866, John "Portuguese" Phillips ended his historic horseback ride at Fort Laramie after riding 236 miles (380 km) from

649-541: The Arkansas River , the trading post and its supporting industries and businesses were the most significant economic hub of commerce in the region. Fort William was founded by William Sublette and his partner Robert Campbell in 1834. In the spring of 1835, Sublette sold the fort to Thomas Fitzpatrick , a local fur trader. After a rendezvous in 1836, it was sold to the American Fur Company , which still had

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708-832: The Bridger Mountains located just to the west of the southern end of the Bighorn Mountains . After cresting the range, the trail led down along the Kirby Creek drainage to where it meets the Bighorn River near the current town of Lucerne . From there, the trail turned north and follows the Bighorn River. At the mouth of the Nowood River the trail turned northeast and headed toward the Greybull River . After that crossing,

767-558: The Christian teaching to this area's indigenous peoples. He carved his name on Independence Rock and called it The Register of the Desert . Later explorers who inscribed the rock include John C. Frémont (1843), who explored the country along the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers. The first Euro-American settlement occurred in the Casper area in the late 19th century. Natrona County was created by

826-619: The Columbia River , and sent Robert Stuart eastward to blaze a trail and lay the foundation of a string of trading posts. Stuart documented the South Pass Route through the Continental Divide , near the SW corner of present-day Natrona County. Stuart's company erected the first hut in the area in 1812, near present-day Bessemer Bend . In 1840, Father Pierre-Jean De Smet began preaching

885-525: The Powder River Country . His entire unit had been killed in a fight with the Sioux under Red Cloud , and he had ridden to get reinforcements for Fort Phil Kearny . Legend maintains that Phillips' thoroughbred horse dropped dead upon arriving at the fort; it is unclear whether Phillips kept the same mount for the entire ride. Phillips crossed hostile Indian country, and had to make most of the journey during

944-457: The Bozeman Trail and running to the west of the Bighorn Mountains in the lands of the Crow and Shoshone people. In all, 10 wagon trains made the trip in spring and summer of 1864, two of them guided personally by Bridger. The following year, hostilities along the Bozeman Trail had escalated to the point where Major General Grenville M. Dodge ordered Brigadier General Patrick E. Connor to lead

1003-515: The Lt. Col. and his family. Burt House is currently restored to 1887-1888 when Lt. Col. Andrew Burt and his family lived there. Fort Laramie also has two surviving guardhouses. The Old Guardhouse, built in 1866, was the second guardhouse in Fort Laramie. This building usually had guards on duty for 24 hours a day, and could hold up to 40 prisoners in the lower level. The New Guardhouse was built to relieve

1062-579: The National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 1975. Fort Laramie Fort Laramie ( / ˈ l ær ə m i / ; founded as Fort William and known for a while as Fort John ) was a significant 19th-century trading post, diplomatic site, and military installation located at the confluence of the Laramie and the North Platte Rivers . They joined in the upper Platte River Valley in

1121-625: The North Platte River west from Nebraska. With the opening of the Mormon Trail on the north bank of the Platte and North Platte, the fort was a junction for westbound travelers. It was an anchor roughly a quarter of the way to either California or Oregon on the famous Oregon Trail. To the west, the common trail leaving Fort John-Laramie later spins off to the Mormon and California trails further west along

1180-649: The Old Guardhouse from overcrowding in 1876. Many ruins of old structures are present at Fort Laramie Historic Site, with the remaining structures making up only a third of the buildings that were once at Fort Laramie. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the troops at Fort Laramie were withdrawn to fight the Confederate States Army in the east. To take their place, a series of volunteer regiments soon arrived at Fort Laramie, including

1239-562: The Virginia City gold mines. The trip could be made in as little as 34 days, though most of the wagon trains took some time to prospect the streams along the route. As compared to the Bozeman Trail, the Bridger Trail was much less suited for wagon trains as grazing and water along the route were limited. However, in 1864, the trail is credited with handling 25% of the total growth in Virginia City's population. At least ten wagon trains used

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1298-407: The age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 36.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 50,936 and the median income for

1357-409: The age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95. The county population contained 26.00% under

1416-468: The age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 36,619, and the median income for a family was $ 45,575. Males had a median income of $ 33,524 versus $ 21,374 for females. The per capita income for

1475-430: The background for the events and the people associated with Fort Laramie. These included 13 standing buildings, 11 standing ruins, and several buildings where only the foundations remain. Natrona County, Wyoming Natrona County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming . As of the 2020 United States Census , the population was 79,955, making it the second-most populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat

1534-488: The company. In 1849, the U.S. Army purchased the fort as a post to protect the many wagon trains of migrant travelers on the Oregon Trail, and the subsidiary northern emigrant trails which split off further west. These included the California and Mormon Trails . The middle reaches of the Mormon trail stayed on the north banks of the Platte and North Platte rivers, and merged with the other emigrant trails heading west over

1593-664: The continental divide from Fort John-Laramie. The name "Fort Laramie" gradually came into use, likely as a convenient shortening of "Fort John at the Laramie River". The remaining structures are preserved as the Fort Laramie National Historic Site by the National Park Service . In 1815 or 1816, Jacques La Ramee and a small group of fellow trappers settled in the area where Fort Laramie would later be located. He went out alone to trap in 1819 or 1820 and

1652-523: The county was $ 18,913. About 8.70% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 75,450 people, 30,616 households, and 19,714 families in the county. The population density was 14.1 people per square mile (5.4 people/km ). There were 33,807 housing units at an average density of 6.3 units per square mile (2.4 units/km ). The racial makeup of

1711-406: The county was 92.8% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.2% were German , 15.2% were Irish , 13.2% were English , and 10.7% were American . Of the 30,616 households, 31.9% had children under

1770-415: The county was 94.15% White , 0.76% Black or African American , 1.03% Native American , 0.42% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 1.92% from other races , and 1.68% from two or more races. 4.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of German , 11.6% English , 11.3% American and 11.2% Irish ancestry. There were 26,819 households, out of which 32.20% had children under

1829-401: The county's vote since Lyndon Johnson garnered 52 percent in his 1964 landslide against Barry Goldwater . Bill Clinton did win a 100-vote plurality in the 1992 election due to a significant third-party vote . In 2024, Donald Trump received 72.7% of the vote, the county's highest vote percentage for any presidential candidate since Wyoming statehood in 1890. Natrona County is governed by

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1888-615: The eastern part of the present-day US state of Wyoming . The fort was founded as a private trading-post in the 1830s to service the overland fur trade ; in 1849, it was purchased by the United States Army . The site was located east of the long climb leading to the best and lowest crossing-point over the Rocky Mountains at South Pass and became a popular stopping-point for migrants on the Oregon Trail . Along with Bent's Fort on

1947-509: The first Powder River Expedition to try to end the raids along the trail. Connor chose Bridger as one of his guides, and Bridger spent the next few years guiding various military excursions into the Powder River Country and never again led settlers along the Bridger Trail. The route left the Oregon Trail at Red Buttes, near Fort Caspar in central Wyoming, and headed in a northwestern direction. The trail crossed Badwater Creek near present-day Lysite, Wyoming , and followed Bridger Creek into

2006-531: The fort made up the small force that was killed during the Grattan massacre of 1854 under the command of Second Lieutenant John Lawrence Grattan . During the increasing strife of the 1860s, the fort took on a more military posture. Fort Laramie was never seriously threatened by Indian attacks during the quarter-century of intermittent warfare sparked by the Grattan massacre. However, a number of civilians were killed in

2065-514: The fort several days to mail letters, exchange or purchase cattle , replenish their provisions and reset wagon tires. The fort was taken over by the Army largely to protect and supply emigrants along the emigrant trails. In 1851, the first Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed, resulting in relatively peaceful relations between the whites and the Native Americans during the 1850s, though troops from

2124-463: The hills limited to the Sioux. Miners invaded the territory, and US forces came into conflict during the Great Sioux War of 1876 . Fort Laramie served as a major staging point for supplies and troops. After the completion of the transcontinental railroad , the fort's importance gradually decreased. Fewer wagon trains journeyed west, and regional Native Americans had been largely subdued. The fort

2183-530: The immediate area and their property destroyed or stolen during this period of hostilities on the plains. The last known death occurred in March 1877 on the Big Bitter Cottonwood Creek. The earliest surviving photograph of Fort Laramie, taken in 1858 by Samuel C. Mills , shows the remains of the old adobe walled fur trade fort (Fort John) flanked by a cluster of scattered wood and adobe buildings around

2242-487: The legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 9, 1888, and it was organized in 1890. The land for Natrona County was annexed from Carbon County . Natrona County was named for the deposits of natron found in the area. According to George Mitchell, first mayor of Casper and member of the organization commission for Natrona County, the name was first suggested "by my old friend the late Cy Iba, who at one time owned

2301-527: The nearby Fort Bernard was established about 8 miles (13 km) east, farther down the North Platte River, in hopes of getting some of the growing Emigrant Trail trade with western bound wagon trains. This much smaller fort undersold the Laramie operation. It offered a connection south via a crude mule-train road to the Santa Fe Trail via Colorado. Fort Bernard burnt down in 1866, and was never rebuilt. Only

2360-453: The parade grounds. After Fort Laramie was purchased by the military on June 26, 1849, numerous buildings were constructed in the following years. As construction began many different factors were hindering progress. Amongst these issues included a lack of laborers, the cold winters, lack of water, and a limited supply of wood and stone in the surrounding area. One solution to these issues was the use of adobe bricks in building. Adobe bricks were

2419-463: The road to the Rogue River Valley. The main trail passed northwest to Oregon's Willamette Valley and Oregon City . One of the early principal owner-trappers was William Sublette , and the fort was called Fort William before being sold to the American Fur Company in 1841. (John Jacob Astor, the founder, had left his company a decade before.) The name was changed to Fort John after John Sarpy,

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2478-467: The second floor, each would hold roughly 60 men. Another quarters, known as the Post Surgeon quarters was finished in 1875 and lived in for the next 15 years by the surgeon and his family. The post surgeon quarters have been reconstructed to resemble the 1880's. Following this was the construction of the Lt. Col. Quarters known as Burt House in 1884. Made with lime grout concrete, Burt House was intended for

2537-598: The settlers forded the Shoshone River near Powell and continued north into Montana. After traveling through Bridger Canyon, the trail met the Clark's Fork Yellowstone River and followed it downstream past the present day town of Bridger, Montana , finally joining the Bozeman Trail at its confluence with Rock Creek, about 10 miles south of present-day Laurel, Montana . The two trails continued together west across Montana to

2596-440: The soda lakes." In 1909, Natrona County gained land from Fremont County . The boundaries were adjusted slightly in 1911 and 1931, and at that point the county gained its present outline. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 5,376 square miles (13,920 km ), of which 5,340 square miles (13,800 km ) is land and 35 square miles (91 km ) (0.7%) is water. Natrona County derives its name from

2655-426: The town of Fort Laramie , developed (both were later renamed to match the river's eponym). Geographically, the site is situated just east of the steeper foothills terrain to the west (sometimes called "High Plains") that ascends to the east side of the Rocky Mountains proper. This ascent was among the few roadways accessible by the wagons pioneers used to the west. It passed through the continental divide and reached

2714-475: The trail in 1864, the largest being composed of 129 wagons and carrying some 350 to 450 people. Few remnants of the trail remain today. Some visible tracks can be seen in Fremont County and Hot Springs, County . There are two sets of remaining carvings of settlers names: one on a sandstone cliff face near Bridger Creek, and the other at Signature Rock between Byron, Wyoming and Cowley, Wyoming . The trail

2773-529: The vast deposits of the mineral Natron found within the county. Of the 18 million tons of Natron consumed by American industry annually 17 Million tons is mined in Wyoming due to it purity. As of the 2000 United States Census , of 2000, there were 66,533 persons, 26,819 households, and 17,754 families in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km ). There were 29,882 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of

2832-517: The west slopes of the Rockies along a network of river valleys connecting to the far west via South Pass near the head waters of the North Platte. The strategic site on the eastern plains also had large grazing areas, where migrants could rest their draft animals before tackling the mountains. People could set up camps, do laundry, and heal before beginning anew the rigors of the westward trail. In 1845,

2891-472: The years the fort was running, numerous additions were added to the Post Traders store and complex. In 1852 the northern section was built from stone, this became the store headquarters. Additions were made again in 1883 to serve as a bar and officers club housing. The First Hospital in Fort Laramie was built from adobe bricks with a log roof in 1856. It had two rooms with eight beds each. The First Hospital

2950-407: Was decommissioned in 1890. The original abandonment order was issued in 1889, and four of the infantry companies stationed there at that time went to Fort Logan , near Denver, Colorado that fall. In March 1890, about 30 cavalry soldiers and civilian mechanics under the command of Lt. C. W. Taylor arrived at the fort and removed doors, windows, flooring, and any other material from the buildings that

3009-477: Was established, which became the Fort Laramie National Historic Site in 1960. In a 1983 document, the National Park Service (NPS) describes a 536-acre historic district within the larger national historic site containing all of the historic structures, buildings, ruins, and sites, as well as a separate area containing a bridge. The NPS identified 36 significant physical remains that provide

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3068-399: Was expanded in 1858 with an additional room, kitchen, dinning, and laundry area. Then in 1871 a new hospital was built in Fort Laramie originally based on a military standardized hospital plan. The first wing of this hospital was completed in 1873-1874 but the original plans were never finished. Porches were added around the building to help with the harsh weather. Over the years Fort Laramie

3127-495: Was never seen again. Arapahoe Indians were accused of killing La Ramee and burying his body in a beaver dam. The river was named "Laramie" in his honor, and later settlers used this name for the Laramie Mountains , the fort, and the towns of Laramie, Wyoming and Fort Laramie, Wyoming . The original fort was constructed in the 1830s, probably in 1833–1834 by William Sublette and Robert Campbell . The overland fur trade

3186-480: Was not well-defined in most places, but used a single well-defined path at stream crossings and other places where the terrain limits the choice of route, where the most distinct traces survive. Two portions of the Bridger Road are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Dry Creek crossing at 44°27′34″N 108°31′44″W  /  44.45944°N 108.52889°W  / 44.45944; -108.52889

3245-539: Was operational, several more buildings were built for housing. Firstly, The Captains Quarters were built from 1868-1870. The plans for the Captains Quarters were altered midway through construction, resulting in a duplex with a thin staircase. Next, was the construction of the Cavalry Barracks in 1872-1874. This two story building is the only barracks left at Fort Laramie. The Cavalry Barracks had two large rooms on

3304-402: Was still prosperous when Jim Bridger and Tom Fitzpatrick bought the place. The fort was located near the confluence of two rivers, so it commanded a broad plain with water on two sides; these formed a partial natural moat. In addition, the nearby confluence of the North Platte's waters had a ford easily used by travelers on what later became the northern overland emigrant trails following

3363-498: Was the post's permanent garrison for many years, arrived on August 12, 1849. By 1849, gold seekers had joined the Oregon-bound settlers and Mormons heading to Utah, and westward travelers were estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000 in 1849. The fort itself occupied a location where the westward trail diverged in the direction of either Oregon, Salt Lake City or California. Based on contemporary accounts travelers would remain at

3422-467: Was thought to be of value to the government. The last soldiers left Fort Laramie on April 20, 1890. All but one of the structures were sold at auction to private citizens. The entire military reservation, which was nine miles long and six miles wide, was opened up to homesteaders for settlement on October 5, 1891. The federal government repurchased the site in 1938 and began reconstructing the fort for preservation purposes. The Fort Laramie National Monument

3481-439: Was used by officers of various rank and marital status, since no other housing was yet available. Old Bedlam offered very little privacy utilizing public kitchen areas and soldiers often sharing rooms. In 1881 Old Bedlam was turned into a duplex. Also originally built in 1849 was the Post Traders store. This store provided supplies for all sorts of people including the Army, Native Americans, and pioneers traveling west. Throughout

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