Population of Crook County still rising

SUNDANCE (WNE) — While most of Wyoming was experiencing slow growth or even decline last year, Crook County stood well ahead of the pack in population increase.

In fact, the local growth rate was more than double the national average and six times higher than the Wyoming average.

According to the latest statistics from the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division, the number of people living in Crook County grew by 2.4% between July of 2023 and 2024. That’s 179 new people joining the community across the year.

The next highest population growth last year was Albany County at 1.7%, followed by Sheridan County at 1.2%.

Of the eleven counties that saw growth over the year, no others had an increase over 1%.

Twelve counties either experienced no or negative growth, with the largest drops in Niobrara and Washakie counties at -1.1% and -1% respectively.

Wyoming’s growth rate over the year was just 0.4% overall, with the national average sitting at 1%.

This year’s statistics continue a trend that has seen the northeast corner of the state welcome the highest percentage of new people of any county in Wyoming for the last four years.

Over that time, 599 new people have moved to the area, an increase of 8.3%.

This is the highest percentage of population growth in the state, with Lincoln County following up at 7.2%.

Crook County saw a decrease of nine residents last year due to natural change (deaths versus births), but 189 people moved to the county from other locations.

This story was published on March 20, 2025.