Wyoming is well known for its long history, small population, and wealth of natural beauty. However, not all of its villages are doing well in the modern era. I

n actuality, some communities suffer from severe degradation and depopulation as residents relocate in quest of better opportunities. This article will look at seven Wyoming towns that are seeing a sharp drop in population as well as the causes of this trend.

Lost Springs

There are only four residents in the town of Lost Springs in Converse County, Wyoming, according to the 2020 census. It was once a bustling railroad town with a hotel, shop, and post office. However, as the railroad was abandoned, most of the residents moved out.

Since then, the hamlet has been fighting for its life, and several media outlets have named it one of America’s smallest municipalities.

Jeffrey City

Jeffrey City is a town in Fremont County, Wyoming, with 58 persons as of the 2020 census. It began as a uranium mining village in 1957 and had a peak population of over 4,000 in the 1970s.

However, as the uranium market crashed in the 1980s, the town rapidly fell into decay. Most of the businesses closed and many structures were abandoned. Nowadays, Jeffrey City is a ghost town with relatively few residents.

Kirby

Kirby is a town in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, with 92 residents as of the 2020 census. It was first established in 1906 as a ranching community and later evolved into a hub for oil and gas exploitation.

However, the community has recently suffered from a lack of economic growth and employment opportunities.

Many of the younger residents of the community have left in search of better chances elsewhere. The town’s main attraction is the Wyoming Whiskey Distillery, which first opened its doors in 2009.

Van Tassell

Van Tassell is a town in Niobrara County, Wyoming, with 15 residents as of the 2020 census. It was founded as a railroad town in 1915 and was named for a local rancher.

The town was formerly a thriving place with a store, a bar, a church, and a school. However, the town began to decline as soon as the train was stopped. The chapel closed in 1974, and the school ceased in 1962. These days, Van Tassell is a quiet, empty place with few amenities.

Hartville

There are 62 people living in Hartville, a town in Platte County, Wyoming, according to the 2020 census. It became the oldest town in Wyoming when it was incorporated in 1884.

The mining town has rich reserves of gold, iron, and copper.

The town prospered until the 1920s, when the mines started to run out of ore. The town’s population steadily declined over time as many of its residents moved elsewhere. Historic buildings in the town, such as the Sunrise Mine and Hartville Museum, are now popular tourist attractions.

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Riverside

Riverside is a community in Carbon County, Wyoming, with 52 residents as of the 2020 census. It is located near the confluence of the North Platte and Encampment rivers and was a popular hunting and fishing spot for early settlers and Native Americans.

The town, which was founded in 1902, grew as a center for forestry and ranching. However, the town’s economy did suffer in the 20th century as a result of challenges and competition in the forestry and agriculture industries.

Since then, the town’s population has been dropping, and many of its buildings are dilapidated or in bad shape.

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Yoder

Yoder is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, with 169 residents as of the 2020 census. Around 1900, it was established as a farming hamlet and given its name in honor of a local farmer. When the town was a vibrant community, it had a bank, a hotel, a school, and a newspaper.

However, the town’s fortunes were radically changed in the 1930s when a series of droughts, dust storms, and grasshopper infestations destroyed its crops and animals.

The village never fully recovered from the Great Depression, and many of its residents left. The town’s main source of income now comes from the Yoder Rodeo, which happens in July.