Why is Niobrara County, Wyoming So Empty?

In the video below, you'll see a gentleman exploring Wyoming's least populated towns and counties to discover why they are the way they are.

This time it's Niobrara County.

Here are some basic facts about this corner of Wyoming, which, by the way, is a beautiful place to drive if you ever care to take the time.

Niobrara County has the lowest population of any county in Wyoming—with about 2,341 to 2,467 residents spread across 2,626 square miles. Run the math on that and you'll find less than 1 person per square mile.

Like much of Wyoming, this county has been through many booms and busts.

The population peaked at around 10,000 residents during the 1920s. That is as big as it ever got. This orgional boom was driven by homesteading, railroads, cattle loading sidings, and the Lance Creek oil boom.

But as ranching, mining, and oil extraction mechanized, those lines of work required fewer workers. The local economy shrank. Jobs like those were never replaced.

Little towns like Keeline vanished. That was partly because railroads changed routes, and in some areas local dryland farming failed.

Geography is part of the counties isolation.

About two-thirds of the county's population live in the country seat of Lusk. That leaves the rest of the 2,626-square-mile area extremely sparse.

Major shopping is nearly 100 miles away. If you need something, you'll have to plan the trip.

Some people love living in this kind of isolation. But young people leave for bigger opportunities.

Roughly 31.7% of Niobrara County residents are aged 65 or older. The country is aging out of existence. But that could change, somewhat, with new energy possibilities, like coal, oil, and natural gas.