Patrick J. Quealy (1857–1930) immigrated from Ireland, founded Kemmerer as an "independent town" in 1897 when he was vice-president of the Kemmerer Coal Company, located 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the original townsite. He named the company and town after his financial backer, Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer (1843–1925). In 1950, the operation converted to strip mining and became the world's largest open pit coal mine. In 1980 the Kemmerer Coal Co. was sold to the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Westmorland Coal Company.[7] The pit remains in operation with an annual output of about 5 million tons.
Quealy sold lots in the townsite rather than lease them, which permitted the establishment of independent businesses. The company's subsidiary, Frontier Supply Company, provided electricity by utilizing a used $1,150 generator acquired in Utah. In Wyoming, he and his wife became active in Democratic Party politics and in St. Patrick's Church, for which the company donated land.
Quealy was the founding president of the First National Bank, established in 1900. Kemmerer Savings Bank was founded in 1909. Its president Asbury D. Hoskins was manager of the Blyth-Fargo-Hoskins Company, and was elected Wyoming state treasurer in 1919.
The J. C. Penney company store was founded in Kemmerer in 1902.[8]
TerraPower selected Kemmerer, Wyoming as the site for a 345 MWe reactor using a molten salt energy storage system. The reactor can temporarily boost output to 500 MWe, enabling the plant to integrate with renewable resources.[9]
In June 2024 the site broke ground, beginning preparation for the as-yet unapproved reactor.[10]
It is estimated to cost $4 billion, with the DOE supplying half of that cost, and Bill Gates contributing $1 billion of his money.[11]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.81 square miles (20.23 km2), of which 7.80 square miles (20.20 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[12]
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Kemmerer has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Kemmerer was 99 °F (37 °C) on July 12, 1990, while the coldest temperature recorded was −39 °F (−39 °C) on December 22, 1990.[13]
Climate data for Kemmerer, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1990–present
As of the census[16] of 2020, there were 2,415 people, 1,251 households, and 538 families living in the city. The population density was 309.2 inhabitants per square mile (119.4/km2). There were 1,454 housing units at an average density of 186.2 per square mile (71.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, >.1% African American, .8% Native American, >.7% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population.
There were 1,251 households, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.8% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 3.12.
The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 12.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.7% male and 46.3% female.
2010 census
As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 2,656 people, 1,078 households, and 704 families living in the city. The population density was 340.5 inhabitants per square mile (131.5/km2). There were 1,265 housing units at an average density of 162.2 per square mile (62.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 0.2% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 3.9% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population.
There were 1,078 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% 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 3.03.
The median age in the city was 38.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.2% male and 47.8% female.
Economy
Naughton Power Plant
Naughton Power Plant is a 400 MW coal-fired power station supplemented by 380 MW gas,[18] located on the southwest edge of Kemmerer.[19] The plant employs 230 people, and is scheduled to stop burning coal[20] in 2026, and gas in 2036.[21]
^ Manuel, Obed; Innskeep, Steve (June 14, 2024). "Bill Gates is going nuclear: How his latest project could power U.S. homes and AI". NPR. Gates has invested $1 billion into a nuclear power plant that broke ground in Kemmerer, Wyo., this week. The new facility, designed by the Gates-founded TerraPower, will be smaller than traditional fission nuclear power plants and, in theory, safer because it will use sodium instead of water to cool the reactor's core. TerraPower estimates the plant could be built for up to $4 billion,...
