Pinedale is a town in and the county seat of Sublette County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 2,030 at the 2010 census. Pinedale is an important hunting outfitting town and a gateway to the Wind River Mountains. It is also a major gateway to the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming. Additionally, Pinedale is near several large natural gas fields, including the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field. Attractions include the Museum of the Mountain Man, Green River Rendezvous Days, White PineSki Area, and the Town Park System along the Pine Creek Corridor in the middle of town. The mayor is Matt Murdock, who was elected in 2018.
Geography and climate
Pinedale is located at and sits at an elevation of 7,175 feet above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all of it land. There are 1,300 lakes around the Pinedale area. Fremont Lake, four miles from Pinedale, is the most commonly used lake, and Wyoming's second largest natural lake. Pine Creek flows from nearby Fremont Lake through the town on its way to the Green River. Primarily due to its high elevation, Pinedale has a subalpine climate with summers featuring very warm afternoons and cold mornings, plus very cold, dry winters. The average January low is, on average 53.2 mornings fall to or below and between 1971 and 2000 was reached on an average of seven mornings each winter. The coldest temperature on record since records started in 1948 is during the bitter cold wave of December 1990. Although the winters are dry, there is enough moisture in the cold air for of snow during a typical winter, with the range being from between July 1974 and June 1975 to between July 1962 and June 1963.
Wildlife
Pinedale and the surrounding area are home to a large population of wildlife including both grizzly and black bear, moose, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. Over seven species of trout, including rainbow and brown can be found in the area lakes.
Human Rights
In 2014 Magistrate Judge Ruth Neely was censured by the Wyoming Supreme Court for her refusal to perform same sex marriages due to her personal religious beliefs. In another matter in September 2017, District Court Judge Marvin Tyler refused to allow a disabled individual to bring a service animal into the Courtroom during a civil trial.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,030 people, 847 households, and 484 families residing in the town. The population density was. There were 1,080 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 90.5% White, 0.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.9% of the population. There were 847 households of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age in the town was 33.5 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.9% were from 45 to 64; and 9.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 54.8% male and 45.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,412 people, 582 households, and 368 families residing in the town. The population density was 996.5 people per square mile. There were 718 housing units at an average density of 506.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.95% White, 0.35% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.49% of the population. There were 582 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89. In the town, the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $35,188, and the median income for a family was $40,880. Males had a median income of $31,976 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,441. About 7.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
The region offers many outdoor activities with its close proximity to the Wind River Range. These activities include fishing, hiking, camping, boating, four-wheeling, hunting, skiing/snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and ice skating. The town hosts the Green River Rendezvous, a reenactment of historic fur trader gatherings at the Upper Green River Rendezvous Site in nearby Daniel. During Rendezvous, rodeos take place at the rodeo grounds and many businesses and vendors set up booths around town.
