Long in the tooth — Average age increases and youth population decreases
Collectively, Weston County’s population continues to trend older as the years go by, according to a recent report from the State of Wyoming Department of Administration & Information.
The report shows that 24% of Weston County’s population is over the age of 65, well above the state (19.7%) and the national (18%) marks. We are far from being Wyoming’s oldest county, however, as the counties with the highest percentage of population over the age of 65 include Platte at 28.5%, Niobrara at 28.6%, Johnson at 28.7% and Hot Springs at 31.1%.
We could be catching up to those leaders though, and a breakdown provided by the department does show that the number of people in Weston County over the age of 65 continues to increase, while the number of children under the age of 13 continues to drop.
According to the report, there were 310 children under age 4 in Weston County in 2020. That number dropped to 296 in 2021, 290 in 2022, 287 in 2023 and 276 in 2024.
For children ages 5 to 13, there were reportedly 690 in 2020, 693 in 2021, 691 in 2022, 674 in 2023 and 658 in 2024.
At the same time, Weston County had a reported 1,650 residents over age 65 in 2024. This is up from 1,600 in 2023, 1,554 in 2022, 1,475 in 2021 and 1,459 in 2020.
For those ages 18 to 24, the population has remained steady most recently, the report shows. In 2024 there was reported to be 497 compared with 494 in 2023, 497 in 2022, 458 in 2021 and 443 in 2020.
The largest age group analyzed in the county was people between ages 15 and 44. According to the report, there were 2,368 residents in that age group.
This is down from 2,388 in 2023, when the population dropped drastically from 2,436 in 2022. In 2021, the population in this sector was reported to be 2,380, and in 2020, it was 2,419.
A breakdown of those 18 and older shows fluctuation over the years, with a total of 5,613 residents reported for 2024. In 2023, that number was reported to be 5,558; in 2022, it was 5,568; in 2021, it was 5,432; and in 2020, the adult population was reported to be 5,475.
Countywide, the report shows the overall population fluctuating as well. In 2020, the county population was reported to be 6,817, followed by 6,747 in 2021, 6,872 in 2022, 6,828 in 2023 and 6,866 in 2024.
When it comes to the median age, the report shows that the age has slowly increased since 2020. According to the report, the median age in 2020 was 43.6 followed by 44 in 2021, 44.4 in 2022, 44.9 in 2023 and 45.4 in 2024.
Looking back even further, the median age in Weston County was reported to be 40.7 in 2000, according to information provided by the department. By 2010, the median age had climbed to 42.3.
In 2000, the total county population was reported to be 6,644, with 5,046 residents over age 18, 4,782 residents over 21, and 1,245 over 65.
In 2010, the county population was reported to be 7,208. The number of residents over 65 was reported to be 1,149. Of those people, four were over the age of 100.