# Meeteetse, Wyoming

Meeteetse is a town in Park County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 327 at the 2010 census.

## History

The town's name is derived from a Shoshone term for "nearby".

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.87 square miles (2.25 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

Sunshine 3NE is a weather station near the Lower Sunshine Reservoir, a lake nearby to the south of Meeteetse.
Climate data for Sunshine 3NE, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals, 1963-2020 extremes: 6224ft (1897m) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 65 (18) | 72 (22) | 79 (26) | 87 (31) | 91 (33) | 93 (34) | 93 (34) | 87 (31) | 81 (27) | 69 (21) | 68 (20) | 93 (34) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.1 (11.7) | 54.6 (12.6) | 61.9 (16.6) | 71.1 (21.7) | 77.2 (25.1) | 83.9 (28.8) | 88.4 (31.3) | 86.7 (30.4) | 82.8 (28.2) | 74.8 (23.8) | 62.3 (16.8) | 53.8 (12.1) | 89.2 (31.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.1 (1.2) | 34.5 (1.4) | 42.9 (6.1) | 49.2 (9.6) | 57.9 (14.4) | 68.5 (20.3) | 77.3 (25.2) | 75.8 (24.3) | 66.0 (18.9) | 53.2 (11.8) | 41.4 (5.2) | 33.0 (0.6) | 52.8 (11.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 29.6 (−1.3) | 36.1 (2.3) | 45.1 (7.3) | 53.5 (11.9) | 60.8 (16.0) | 59.4 (15.2) | 50.4 (10.2) | 39.1 (3.9) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 19.9 (−6.7) | 38.7 (3.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.5 (−13.6) | 8.3 (−13.2) | 16.2 (−8.8) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 32.2 (0.1) | 38.6 (3.7) | 44.4 (6.9) | 43.0 (6.1) | 34.9 (1.6) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 6.8 (−14.0) | 24.6 (−4.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.5 (−26.4) | −13.6 (−25.3) | −3.4 (−19.7) | 8.1 (−13.3) | 19.9 (−6.7) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 36.7 (2.6) | 34.1 (1.2) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 7.4 (−13.7) | −8.2 (−22.3) | −14.9 (−26.1) | −23.1 (−30.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −36 (−38) | −39 (−39) | −31 (−35) | −9 (−23) | 2 (−17) | 20 (−7) | 27 (−3) | 25 (−4) | −1 (−18) | −10 (−23) | −28 (−33) | −40 (−40) | −40 (−40) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.40 (10) | 0.71 (18) | 1.50 (38) | 2.88 (73) | 2.09 (53) | 1.36 (35) | 1.09 (28) | 1.32 (34) | 1.11 (28) | 0.56 (14) | 0.46 (12) | 13.79 (350.9) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.20 (15.7) | 7.80 (19.8) | 10.20 (25.9) | 13.60 (34.5) | 6.20 (15.7) | 0.90 (2.3) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.00 (0.00) | 1.60 (4.1) | 8.00 (20.3) | 9.10 (23.1) | 8.50 (21.6) | 72.1 (183) |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 327 people, 153 households, and 94 families residing in the town. The population density was 375.9 inhabitants per square mile (145.1/km$^2$). There were 177 housing units at an average density of 203.4 per square mile (78.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.8% of the population.
There were 153 households, of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.74.
The median age in the town was 51.3 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16% were from 25 to 44; 35.1% were from 45 to 64; and 23.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.7% male and 48.3% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 351 people, 151 households, and 94 families residing in the town. The population density was 428.7 people per square mile (165.3/km$^2$). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 229.6 per square mile (88.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.15% White, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino peopleof any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 151 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,167, and the median income for a family was $31,953. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,030. About 5.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

Public education in the town of Meeteetse is provided by Park County School District #16. Meeteetse School, a K–12 campus, serves the town.
Meeteetse has a public library, a branch of the Park County Library System.

## Arts and culture

On State Street, the main road in town, is the retail shop of the Meeteetse Chocolatier, which sells gourmet chocolate to fans around the world. The business was created by saddle bronc rider Tim Kellogg as a way to make money when he needed to buy a new saddle. Kellogg continues to make every single item in his store, resulting in small batches with unusual flavors like Coor's or mesquite truffles.

## Nature

Meeteetse was where the last known wild population of black-footed ferrets was discovered in 1981. All black-footed ferrets on earth are descended from this group of about 130, which had dwindled to 18 individuals by 1985. They were all captured, and seven of those managed to breed, thus saving the species.