Medicine Bow, Wyoming

File:Virginian Hotel, Medicine Bow, WY.jpg

The community largely owes its existence to the first transcontinental railroad, built through the area in 1868. A post office called Medicine Bow has been in operation since 1869.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=January 5, 2017}} The community was named after the Medicine Bow River.{{cite book|last1=Moyer|first1=Armond|last2=Moyer|first2=Winifred|title=The origins of unusual place-names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058322223;view=1up;seq=87|year=1958|publisher=Keystone Pub. Associates|page=83}}

Dippy, a well-known dinosaur skeleton, was found in a quarry nearby around 1898. In 1899, fossil hunters for the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum stayed in or near the town during their search for large dinosaur skeletons.Brinkman, P. D. (2010). The second Jurassic dinosaur rush. In The Second Jurassic Dinosaur Rush. University of Chicago Press. The town had a railroad and was near the fossilferous sedimentary hills from the Jurassic Morrison Formation, making it an important stopping location for paleontologists, with fossils of Diplodocus and Brontosaurus found nearby at Como Bluff by the two institutions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The town was noted to be plagued by crime, with famous bandits such as Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch committing the Wilcox Train Robbery only a few miles away from the AMNH's fossil localities and Medicine Bow itself."The Wilcox Holdup". The Pittsburgh Press. September 29, 1905. Retrieved February 4, 2013.

The Virginian Hotel is a historic hotel located in Medicine Bow. It was built in 1911 by August Grimm, and is believed to be named for the Owen Wister novel, which is set in and around Medicine Bow. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.{{NRISref|2008a}}

In the 1910s, part of the Lincoln Highway was routed through Medicine Bow until Interstate 80 replaced it in 1970.

Medicine Bow is located at {{coord|41|53|52|N|106|12|10|W|type:city}} (41.897668, -106.202796).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|3.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 14, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}

{{Weather box

|location = Medicine Bow, Wyoming (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present)

|single line = Y

|width = auto

| Jan record high F = 58

| Feb record high F = 61

| Mar record high F = 73

| Apr record high F = 80

| May record high F = 90

| Jun record high F = 96

| Jul record high F = 97

| Aug record high F = 96

| Sep record high F = 92

| Oct record high F = 81

| Nov record high F = 71

| Dec record high F = 57

| year record high F = 97

|Jan avg record high F = 47.6

|Feb avg record high F = 50.7

|Mar avg record high F = 61.9

|Apr avg record high F = 72.3

|May avg record high F = 80.2

|Jun avg record high F = 88.2

|Jul avg record high F = 92.5

|Aug avg record high F = 89.6

|Sep avg record high F = 83.8

|Oct avg record high F = 74.5

|Nov avg record high F = 60.2

|Dec avg record high F = 48.0

|year avg record high F = 91.6

| Jan high F = 31.3

| Feb high F = 34.8

| Mar high F = 45.6

| Apr high F = 55.1

| May high F = 64.8

| Jun high F = 77.4

| Jul high F = 85.3

| Aug high F = 83.0

| Sep high F = 73.6

| Oct high F = 59.1

| Nov high F = 42.8

| Dec high F = 32.8

| year high F = 57.1

| Jan mean F = 20.8

| Feb mean F = 23.1

| Mar mean F = 31.9

| Apr mean F = 40.0

| May mean F = 49.1

| Jun mean F = 60.0

| Jul mean F = 66.8

| Aug mean F = 64.4

| Sep mean F = 55.0

| Oct mean F = 42.9

| Nov mean F = 30.2

| Dec mean F = 21.7

| year mean F = 42.2

| Jan low F = 10.3

| Feb low F = 11.5

| Mar low F = 18.1

| Apr low F = 25.0

| May low F = 33.3

| Jun low F = 42.6

| Jul low F = 48.3

| Aug low F = 45.9

| Sep low F = 36.3

| Oct low F = 26.7

| Nov low F = 17.6

| Dec low F = 10.7

| year low F = 27.2

|Jan avg record low F = -13.7

|Feb avg record low F = -14.0

|Mar avg record low F = -2.3

|Apr avg record low F = 12.2

|May avg record low F = 22.2

|Jun avg record low F = 32.0

|Jul avg record low F = 38.8

|Aug avg record low F = 36.3

|Sep avg record low F = 24.2

|Oct avg record low F = 11.3

|Nov avg record low F = -4.5

|Dec avg record low F = -13.0

|year avg record low F = -25.1

| Jan record low F = −46

| Feb record low F = −44

| Mar record low F = −22

| Apr record low F = -10

| May record low F = 12

| Jun record low F = 23

| Jul record low F = 27

| Aug record low F = 27

| Sep record low F = 13

| Oct record low F = −13

| Nov record low F = −27

| Dec record low F = −44

| year record low F = −46

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.41

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.63

| Mar precipitation inch = 0.72

| Apr precipitation inch = 1.38

| May precipitation inch = 1.74

| Jun precipitation inch = 1.38

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.11

| Aug precipitation inch = 0.82

| Sep precipitation inch = 0.96

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.01

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.55

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.49

| year precipitation inch = 11.20

| Jan snow inch = 6.5

| Feb snow inch = 7.9

| Mar snow inch = 7.6

| Apr snow inch = 7.3

| May snow inch = 2.4

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 1.2

| Oct snow inch = 5.5

| Nov snow inch = 6.5

| Dec snow inch = 6.8

| year snow inch = 51.7

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 6.2

| Feb precipitation days = 6.1

| Mar precipitation days = 5.8

| Apr precipitation days = 8.1

| May precipitation days = 9.8

| Jun precipitation days = 7.6

| Jul precipitation days = 7.0

| Aug precipitation days = 7.5

| Sep precipitation days = 6.8

| Oct precipitation days = 6.8

| Nov precipitation days = 6.2

| Dec precipitation days = 6.6

| year precipitation days = 84.5

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 5.2

| Feb snow days = 5.8

| Mar snow days = 4.3

| Apr snow days = 3.5

| May snow days = 1.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.4

| Oct snow days = 2.0

| Nov snow days = 4.5

| Dec snow days = 5.3

| year snow days = 32.0

|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=cys

| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = December 10, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00486120&format=pdf

| title = Station: Medicine Bow, WY

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = December 10, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1910= 127

|1920= 210

|1930= 264

|1940= 338

|1950= 328

|1960= 392

|1970= 455

|1980= 953

|1990= 389

|2000= 274

|2010= 284

|2020= 241

|estyear=2025

|estimate=237

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $33,750, and for a family was $35,156. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $20,536 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,420. About 10.3% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under the age of eighteen and 17.5% of those 65 or over.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 14, 2012}} of 2010, 284 people, 125 households, and 81 families resided in the town. The population density was {{convert|82.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The 182 housing units had an average density of {{convert|52.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.1% White, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.7% of the population.

Of the 125 households, 20.8% had children under 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were not families. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27, and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the town was 49.3 years; 20.1% of residents were under 18; 3.5% were between 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 29.9% were from 45 to 64; and 25.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 53.5% male and 46.5% female.

In December 2007, plans were announced for construction of a large coal gasification plant to be built southwest of town.{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/wyoming/supreme-court/2011/461805.html|title=SIERRA CLUB v. WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, and MEDICINE BOW FUEL & POWER, LLC|website=Justia Law|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2019}} The plant was expected to start construction in 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wyomingsbdc.org/old-pages-may-use-later/news/dkrw-start-construction-medicine-bow-plant-one-year/|title=DKRW to start construction of Medicine Bow plant in one year.|date=July 1, 2013|website=www.wyomingsbdc.org|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2017}} In 2014, DKRW Advanced Fuels terminated their contract with Sinopec, the Chinese firm that would have built the plant. In 2015, there were plans to downscale the plant,{{Cite news|url=http://trib.com/business/energy/dkrw-considers-downsizing-proposed-coal-gasification-plant-residents-doubtful/article_ad0e1f5f-08bb-5b92-964f-d86f68266e48.html|title=DKRW considers downsizing proposed coal gasification plant, residents doubtful|last=Benjamin.Storrow@trib.com|first=Benjamin Storrow 307-335-5344|date=June 25, 2015|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune Online|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2017}} and in 2016, the project was put on indefinite hold, partly due to the low cost of crude oil in the US.{{Cite news|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/wyoming-plans-for-dkrw-coal-to-liquid-plant-stall/article_61679478-7b3e-5ac1-aaf1-a2fa0fd83cc4.html|title=Wyoming plans for DKRW coal-to-liquid plant stall|agency=Associated Press|date=January 7, 2016|newspaper=The Billings Gazette|language=en|access-date=February 3, 2017}}

Public education in the town of Medicine Bow is provided by Carbon County School District Number 2. Zoned campuses include [https://web.archive.org/web/20091117155739/http://www.crb2.k12.wy.us/medicinebow.htm Medicine Bow Elementary School] (grades K–6) and H.E.M. Junior/Senior High School [https://web.archive.org/web/20091221013301/http://www.crb2.k12.wy.us/hemshs/] (grades 7–12).

Medicine Bow has a public library, a branch of the Carbon County Library System.{{cite web | url=https://publiclibraries.com/state/wyoming/ | title=Wyoming Public Libraries | publisher=PublicLibraries.com | access-date=June 13, 2019}}

Much of the Western novel The Virginian and subsequent television series of the same name were set in or near Medicine Bow.

Chapter XXVIII from Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days involves a subplot about making a train pass through an unsafe bridge near Medicine Bow.

In the 1960 episode of the television series Maverick entitled "The Misfortune Teller", hero Bret Maverick is nearly lynched by the citizens of Medicine Bow, under the mistaken impression that he is a swindler and the murderer of their late mayor.

In an episode of Laramie ("The Track of the Jackal"), a wanted man is brought to Laramie who is wanted by a bounty hunter to be turned in at Medicine Bow.

• List of municipalities in Wyoming

{{Reflist}}

• Barrett, Glen. (1978) The Virginian at Medicine Bow.
• Roberts, David L. (1991) Sage Street: A Collection of Stories.

{{commons category|Medicine Bow, Wyoming}}

• {{official website|http://www.medicinebow.org/}}
• [http://www.medicinebowwind.com/ Medicine Bow wind farm]

{{Carbon County, Wyoming}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in Carbon County, Wyoming

Category:Towns in Wyoming