Frank S. Lusk

Frank S. Lusk (1857–1930) was a Wyoming rancher and stockholder in the Wyoming Central Railway. Initially residing in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Denver, Colorado in 1876 and built the Western Live Stock Company under a partnership agreement and established a ranch east of Greeley. In 1877, Lusk traveled to the Wyoming Territory for the first time on personal business and left highly impressed with the people and the area. In 1879, eastern Colorado had grown to the point that Lusk, along with his partners began exploring options outside of the area.^[9] His thoughts were recorded in the 1923 Annals of Wyoming: Quarterly Bulletin:

My partners were favorable to moving into eastern Colorado near the Nebraska state line but I remembered the people I had met earlier in Wyoming and those I had subsequently met were a fine class of people and I decided we would go to Wyoming.^[9][10]

—Frank S. Lusk

Lusk and the Western Live Stock Company arrived in the Wyoming Territory in 1880 via Denver, establishing the Node Ranch, about 15 miles (24 km) east of present-day Lusk. A year later, he bought some land about 3 miles (5 km) outside of Lusk, which included the Running Water Stage Station. Buildings on the land included a stone barn and shelters that had been used by the Cheyenne–Deadwood stage route. Lusk established a hay ranch on the property. He organized his horse ranch at the site of what would later become the town of Lusk.^[9][10]

Lusk Post Office

After establishing his three ranch properties, it became clear that the nearest post office was located in Rawhide Buttes, 15 miles (24 km) southeast of the hay ranch, actually Route 20. Collecting the mail required a ride of 40 miles (64 km) round trip. In response, one of the partners in the Gilmer and Salisbury Express Stage told Lusk that he should set up a post office at the ranch, which would provide for delivery of the mail, rather than requiring him to make the ride to Rawhide Buttes. When Lusk sent in the application to the Post Office Department, everything was complete, but he didn't indicate a name for the post office. When asked about it later, Lusk told the star route representative that he was "busy and told him to do whatever he thought would, without a doubt, establish a post office for us. He told me he had suggested that it be called 'Lusk' and in due course of time it was so established".^[9][10]

Wyoming Central Railway

Lusk Water Tower, built in 1886 to provide water for steam locomotives

In 1886, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad wanted to extend their line west from Nebraska toward Casper, Wyoming, in order to transport coal. The territorial laws at that time required railroad companies to incorporate within the territory, before they were allowed to build or operate lines in the area. In order to meet the requirements allow construction and ownership, the Wyoming Central Railway was established as a dummy corporation. While Frank Lusk had been a successful cattleman, he was named as a director and only resident stockholder of the company. Letters of incorporation listed the base of operations as Lusk, Wyoming.^[9][10]

While Lusk was the only post office in Wyoming on the entire (proposed) line and was named as the place of business of the company in its incorporation papers, it wasn't officially established until July of that year, when railroad engineers laid the first plat for the town. That same year, the towns of Douglas, and Casper were officially established in the same manner by Lusk, on behalf of the Wyoming Central Railway.^[9][10]

After the turn of the century, there was another mining boom. Silver was discovered in the hills surrounding Lusk, which brought a steady stream of miners to the area. By the 1950s, growth in the area stabilized when cattle ranching usurped mining as the primary industry of the town.^[7]

In 1952, the Lusk Baptist Church sent letters to Representative William Henry Harrison III and Senators Joseph C. O'Mahoney and Lester C. Hunt protesting the creation of diplomatic relations with Vatican City through the appointment of Mark W. Clark.^[11]

Climate

Lusk experiences a dry humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb)^[14] with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers.

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 1,567 people, 658 households, and 373 families residing in the town. The population density was 757.0 inhabitants per square mile (292.3/km²). There were 790 housing units at an average density of 381.6 units per square mile (147.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.7% White, 0.3% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 658 households, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.3% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.75.

The median age in the town was 43.5 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 42.2% male and 57.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,447 people, 611 households, and 381 families residing in the town. The population density was 721.7 people per square mile (278.6 people/km²). There were 782 housing units at an average density of 390 units per square mile (150 units/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.86 percent White, 0.21 percent African American, .62 percent Native American, .14 percent Asian, .41 percent from other races, and .76 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59 percent of the population.

There were 611 households, out of which 27 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7 percent were married couples living together, 8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5 percent were non-families. Individuals living alone accounted for 35 percent of all households, and 17 percent of those living alone were over the age of 65 years. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.84.

Within the town limits, the population was spread out, with 22.4 percent under the age of 18, 7.7 percent between 18 and 24, 26.5 percent between 25 and 44, 24.1 percent between 45 and 64, and 19.2 percent who were over the age of 65 years. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,760, and the median income for a family was $37,583. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,847. About 9.2 percent of families and 14.2 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7 percent of those under age 18 and 13.1 percent of those age 65 or over.

Highways

• U.S. Hwy 18 - concurrent with U.S. 20 West and U.S. 85 North.
• U.S. Hwy 20 - east–west route through Lusk.
• U.S. Hwy 85 - north–south route through Lusk.
• WYO 273 - runs through western edge of Lusk, from U.S. Hwy 20 to Niobrara Country Club.

A Tesla Supercharger with four stalls located on Main Street was opened in early 2014.^[31]

Local roads

• Beer Can Road – locally maintained road running east and north from the north end of Lusk.
• Twentyeight Road – locally maintained road running northwest from north end of Lusk.

Airport

The Department of Public Works operates and maintains the Lusk Municipal Airport, 3 miles (5 km) east of town.^[32]

Public transit

Niobara Senior Center provides basic paratransit services for both Lusk and Niobara County^[33]

Utilities

The Department of Public Works maintains and delivers utility services within the town including water, electricity, streets, sewer, sanitation, landfill, and recycling.

Safety and healthcare

Safety and healthcare infrastructure include law enforcement, medical emergency transport, fire protection, which is maintained through the Lusk Volunteer Fire Department. As of 2012, the department includes 21 fully trained and certified volunteer firefighters. Senior department officers provide training classes and certification through accreditation with the State of Wyoming, National Fire Protection Association, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and National Fire Academy.^[34]