Hot Springs County is a county in Wyoming, United States, home to the mineral hot springs of Thermopolis in the state’s north-central basin country. It had a population of 4,621 at the 2020 census and covers 2,006 square miles (5,200 km2) of land and water, centred near 43°43′N 108°26′W.
Thermopolis is the county seat, and its postal code is 82443. The county has 2 incorporated towns, 2 census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities. Hot Springs County sits in the Mountain time zone and is, by area, the smallest county in Wyoming.
Towns & Villages in Hot Springs County
Thermopolis anchors the county and holds nearly all of its population; East Thermopolis and Kirby are the other incorporated towns, while Lucerne and Owl Creek are census-designated places. The remaining names below are unincorporated communities, several tied to the county’s early oil and gypsum mining era.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermopolis | City · seat | 2,725 | 82443 |
| East Thermopolis | Town | 184 | 82443 |
| Kirby | Town | 77 | 82430 |
| Lucerne | CDP | — | 82443 |
| Owl Creek | CDP | — | 82443 |
| Grass Creek | Unincorp. | — | 82443 |
| Hamilton Dome | Unincorp. | — | 82443 |
| Embar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Minnesela | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nickelson Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Lane | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 82443 — Thermopolis (also serves East Thermopolis, Lucerne and Owl Creek)
- 82430 — Kirby
Together the two ZIPs cover essentially all of Hot Springs County’s population; smaller unincorporated places without their own post office generally use the Thermopolis ZIP.
Geography
Hot Springs County straddles the Bighorn Basin along the Bighorn River, which cuts the dramatic Wind River Canyon at the county’s south end before opening into the broad valley around Thermopolis. Grass Creek and the Owl Creek Mountains give the western and southern parts of the county a rougher, foothill character, while the Big Horn Basin floor to the east is drier rangeland.
Hot Springs County borders Park County to the north and northwest, Washakie County to the northeast, and Fremont County to the south and southwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 4,621 residents, making Hot Springs the second-least populous county in Wyoming. Thermopolis is by far the largest community, followed distantly by East Thermopolis. Median household income in the county runs below the Wyoming median of $72,415, typical of the state’s smaller rural counties. Population density is roughly 2.3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism built around Hot Springs State Park and its free mineral bathhouse is the county’s best-known draw, alongside ranching and oil production tied to the Hamilton Dome and Grass Creek fields. Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital and the local school district are among the county’s larger employers. The county fairgrounds in Thermopolis host the annual Hot Springs County Fair each summer.
History
Hot Springs County was created by the Wyoming Legislature on February 21, 1911, from portions of Big Horn, Fremont, and Park counties, and organized in 1913. The county takes its name from the mineral hot springs at Thermopolis, which the U.S. government purchased from the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho in 1896 under an agreement that a portion of the springs remain free to the public — the origin of the bathhouse still operating in Hot Springs State Park today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 26 both run through Thermopolis, linking the county to Worland and Cody.
- Worland — 33 miles northeast
- Cody — 84 miles northwest
- Riverton — 84 miles south
- Casper — 130 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hot Springs County, Wyoming?
It sits in north-central Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, along the Bighorn River south of Worland and north of the Wind River Canyon.
What is the population of Hot Springs County?
4,621 people, per the 2020 census — the second-least populous county in Wyoming.
How big is Hot Springs County?
2,006 square miles (5,200 km2), making it the smallest county in Wyoming by area.
What is the Hot Springs County seat?
Thermopolis is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hot Springs County?
Two incorporated towns (East Thermopolis and Kirby) plus the city of Thermopolis, two census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hot Springs County?
82443 (Thermopolis) and 82430 (Kirby).
Why is it called Hot Springs County?
It is named for the mineral hot springs at Thermopolis, now the centrepiece of Hot Springs State Park.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Wyoming.