Rock Spring Wyoming History & Facts

Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 23,036 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state of Wyoming, and the most populous city in Sweetwater County. Rock Springs is the principal city of the Rock Springs micropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 37,975. Rock Springs is known as the Home of 56 Nationalities because of the influx of immigrants from all over the world who came to work in the coal mines that supplied the fuel to power the steam engines of the Union Pacific Railroad. The city's rich cultural heritage is celebrated each summer on International Day, a festival where the foods, costumes, and traditions of residents' ancestors are recreated and enjoyed at Bunning Park in downtown Rock Springs.

Rock Springs is the site of Western Wyoming Community College and Wyoming's Big Show, a yearly event with a carnival and concerts which is held at the Sweetwater County Events Complex.

Rock Springs is located in an energy-rich region with many oil and natural gas wells.

Rock Springs derives its name from a rock spring which flowed in the Number 6 district in the northern part of town. An erroneous story had indicated that the spring was found by a lost Pony Express rider, but the spring station was known to Jim Bridger before 1860, the overland stage Station was located nearby. The spring disappeared when the coal mine operations interrupted the underground flow. Later an 'S' was added to the name making it "Rock Springs".

Through the years, water supplies have been a problem to Rock Springs. In the early days, Ed Cleg hauled domestic water from the sulfur spring north of Rock Springs and charged $.25 a barrel. With the mining operations, the water flow was interrupted and water was hauled from Green River and Point of Rocks. Beginning in 1887, a water main was started from the Green River and completed in 1888 to bring a continuous supply of water to Rock Springs.

Rock Springs has a multi-ethnic heritage, locals called it the 57 Variety Town. The first immigrants were brought in by the railroad and coal mining companies. The Welsh and British people were initially most populous. Later, Irish, Blacks and refugees from the Southern part of the United States also came. The Scandinavian people were represented with a heavy Mormon recruitment.

Photo of Rock Springs history posted in the Interstate rest area informational kiosk circa 2021
Photo of Rock Springs history posted in the Interstate rest area informational kiosk circa 2021
One of the worst incidents of anti-immigrant violence in American history, known as the Rock Springs Massacre, occurred on September 2, 1885, whereby White miners slaughtered their Chinese counterparts due to anti-Chinese sentiment. There are still remains of the old coal mining towns outside of Rock Springs.

Rock Springs is located at 41°35′6.38″N 109°13′17.01″W (41.585106, –109.221392). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.34 square miles (50.09 km2), all land.

The city is approximately 6759 feet (2060 m) above sea level.

Famous Peoples From Rock Spring Wyoming

Rose Bascom

Rose Bascom also known as Texas Rose Bascom (January 25, 1922 – September 23, 1993) is a 1981 National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame trick rider inductee.

Rose Bascom was born Ethel Rose Flynt on January 25, 1922, near Mount Olive, Mississippi, in Amie County, Mississippi. Bascom was of Cherokee-Choctaw Native American descent. She also had British and German ancestry.

We also serve Sheridan city.

More Info.

PD&G Wallcover Inc.

Call Us: 949-487-9261
Email: deb@pdgwallcover.com