Pinedale, Wyo.

Information comes
from the Web site Pinedale Online: www.pinedaleonline.com

Elevation: 7,175 feet
Location: Western Wyoming on the western side of the Wind River Mountain Range, south of Jackson Hole, north of Rock Springs, east of Big Piney, 2 hours south of Yellowstone National Park.
Distances: Jackson Hole-78 miles north (about 1-1/4 hours) Yellowstone National Park-130 miles north (about 2 hours) Salt Lake City-237 southwest (about 4 hours)
Area Recreation: Wilderness escapes, fishing, camping, backpacking and hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, golf, wildlife viewing, downhill skiing, x-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice hockey.
Wildlife: Elk, moose, deer, antelope, grizzly and black bear, mountain lion, wolves, bald and golden eagles, and osprey. Fish: Rainbow, brook, golden, mackinaw, native cutthroat and brown trout, kokanee salmon, mountain whitefish, grayling.
Interesting Facts:
n There isn’t a stop light in the entire county.
n More than 80 percent of the county is public land (BLM, National Forest and State).
n Pinedale is the county seat for Sublette County.
n Sublette County has a little more than 1 percent of Wyoming’s total population.
n County population density is 1.2 people per square mile.
Crime: Sublette County is fortunate to have a very low crime rate. The county has Enhanced 911 and a computer system used to assist fire, medical and law enforcement for emergency dispatch. Law enforcement services are provided county-wide by the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office. There are no local town police departments.
Housing: Rentals are scarce. Property prices are increasing steadily due to the natural gas development near Pinedale.
Lodging: Pinedale has a variety of estabilishments for overnight lodging. Large motels include a Best Western, the Lodge at Pinedale (formerly a Super 8 motel) and the AmeriHost motel located on the west end of town. These offer the most rooms, pools and hot tubs. A variety of family-run smaller motels are located in the downtown area. The surrounding area has several bed and breakfasts, guest ranches and lodges, and individual cabins available for rent.
Major Employers: Public School District No. 1, Sublette Center, Faler’s General Store, Sublette County, U.S. Government, natural gas production companies. Pinedale is the seat of Sublette County.
Major Industries: Oil and gas, ranching, tourism, recreation and government.
Medical Services: Pinedale is serviced by a 24-hour clinic. The nearest hospital is in Jackson, 77 miles away. Emergency Life Flight helicopter service is available.
Population: Sublette County has a population of about 6,000 people. County population density is 1.2 people per square mile (2000 Census). Pinedale is the largest town in the county.
Schools: Pinedale schools are part of Sublette County School District No. 1, which include two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Higher education is available through Western Wyoming Community College distance learning program.
Sublette County: Created in 1921, is the newest county in Wyoming. The area is 4,876 square miles. The Wind River Mountains and Continental Divide lie to the east, the Sawtooths and Gros Ventre mountains to the north, and the Wyoming Range and Salt River mountains are to the west. More than 80 percent of the land is public, mostly National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Pinedale became the county seat in 1928.
Taxes: Sales — 4 percent, State income — none, Property — residential is assessed at 9.5 percent of market value. The average mill levy is 60 mills (2004) or about $5.70 per $1000 of appraised or market value. There is a countywide 3 percent lodging tax.
Utilities: Pinedale is serviced by one phone company, one electricity supplier, one coal company, two garbage/refuse services, one cable TV provider, and three natural gas suppliers.
Weather: Summer temperatures are usually in the low 80s with afternoon thunderstorms. Average rainfall is about 10 inches per year. The growing season is 55-60 days long. The average winter daytime temperature is about 15F. Temperatures can fall to – 40F. Cold temperatures don’t feel as cold due to the very low humidity. Average monthly snowfall from December through March is 12 inches. It can snow any day of the year in Pinedale.
Area History: Ranching has been the primary economic factor in the area until recently. Now oil and natural gas in the southern half of the county produce the largest share of the county’s revenue. These fields were developed in the 1920s and experienced booms in the 1950s and 1980s. Tourism and recreation are also now becoming a major business in the county.