Carbon County, Wyoming
Arlington
Baker, Jim, Cabin
Bridger's Pass
Brush Creek Work Center
Carbon Cemetery
DFU Elk Mountain Bridge
Divide Sheep Camp
DMJ Pick Bridge
DML-Butler Bridge
Downtown Rawlins Historic District
Downtown Rawlins Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Elk Mountain Hotel
Ferris, George, Mansion
First State Bank of Baggs
Fort Halleck
Fort Steele
Fossil Cabin, The
France Memorial United Presbyterian Church
Grand Encampment Mining Region: Boston Wyoming Smelter Site
Grand Encampment Mining Region: Ferris-Haggarty Mine Site
Hanna Community Hall
Headquarters Park Historic District
Hotel Wolf
Hugus Hardware
Jack Creek Guard Station
JO Ranch Rural Historic Landscape
Medicine Bow Union Pacific Depot
Parco Historic District
Platte River Crossing
Rawlins Residential Historic District
Ryan Ranch
Saratoga Masonic Hall
Site 32 SL-O Intermediate Field Historic District
Stockgrowers Bank
Stone Wall Ranch
Sun, Tom, Ranch
Union Pacific Railroad Depot
Virginian Hotel
Willis House
Wyoming State Penitentiary District
A Tourist's Railroad
A Well Traveled Sawmill
Bridge Tender's House
Brownsville and Benton
Carbon Timber Company
Cemetery
Civil War Cannons
Early Construction
Encampment, Wyoming
Enlisted Men's Barracks
Fenimore Chatterton
Fort Fred Steele
Fort Fred Steele
Fort Fred Steele after 1886
Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site
Fort Halleck
Fort Steele Schoolhouse
George A. Wyman
Image of Fort Fred Steele
Major General Frederick Steele
Major General Philippe Regis de Trobriand
Major Thomas Tipton Thornburgh
Muddy Gap
Officers Who Commanded Fort Fred Steele
Officer's Quarters
Old Cherokee Trail
Old Rock Creek Stage Crossing
Overland Trail
Overland Trail
Owen Wister
Powder Magazine
Railroad and River
Ranching
Ranching Central
Rawlins
Rawlins Paint Mines
Rawlins Springs
Rock Springs Massacre
Saratoga, Carbon County Veterans Memorial
Sheep Industry
Sheep Ranching
Sheepherder's Community
Storer - Saratoga Lake Wetland
The Great Lincoln Highway...
The Overland Stage Station Route
The Parco Inn
The Passenger's Railroad
This January 1880 plan of Fort Fred Steele...
This Marker on the Overland Trail
Thomas A. Edison
Thornburgh's Command
Town of Ft. Steele
Viewing the Fort Grounds
Wagonhound Rest Area
Wagonhound Tipi Rings
Wild Times In Benton!
William Daley Flagpole
Wyoming - A Fortress for Wildlife
Wyoming State Penitentiary
Wyoming Winds
In the mid-19th century, the discovery of gold in the Atlantic City-South Pass area brought an influx of prospectors and miners to Carbon County. The county's name itself is derived from the vast coal deposits found in the region, which became a significant economic resource. The Union Pacific Railroad's expansion in the 1860s further spurred development in the county, as it provided a means to transport coal and other resources.
The town of Rawlins, named after Union Pacific Superintendent General John A. Rawlins, became the county seat in 1868. It quickly developed into a center for the region's coal mining industry. Coal production boomed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, attracting immigrants from various countries to work in the mines. This contributed to the diverse cultural heritage of Carbon County.
In addition to coal, other industries started to develop in Carbon County. Ranching became a vital part of the local economy, as the open plains provided ample grazing land. Additionally, the county's stunning natural landscapes and proximity to outdoor recreational activities, such as hunting and fishing, attracted tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Today, Carbon County remains an important contributor to the state's energy sector and continues to preserve its unique history and natural resources.
Brief timeline of the history of Carbon County, Wyoming:
- 1868 - Carbon County was established by the territorial legislature of the Wyoming Territory.
- 1869 - The first white settlement in Carbon County was established at Rawlins Springs.
- 1870 - Rawlins Springs was renamed Rawlins and became the county seat of Carbon County.
- 1870s - Coal mining became a significant industry in Carbon County.
- 1881 - The Union Pacific Railroad reached Carbon County, leading to increased economic growth.
- 1886 - Carbon County experienced a major coal mining disaster, known as the Hanna Mine Explosion, where over 60 miners lost their lives.
- 1890 - The population of Carbon County reached its peak with over 12,000 residents.
- 1930s - The Great Depression greatly impacted the economy of Carbon County, leading to a decline in mining activities.
- 1950s - The construction of Interstate 80 through the county boosted tourism and transportation in Carbon County.
- 1980s - Carbon County faced another economic downturn with a decline in coal mining and oil extraction.
- Present - Carbon County continues to be a significant contributor to Wyoming's energy industry, with ongoing coal and oil production.
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Carbon County, Wyoming.