Moorcroft, Wyoming
| Moorcroft, Wyoming | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Location in Crook County and the state of Wyoming. |
|
| Coordinates: 44°15′54″N 104°57′2″W / 44.26500°N 104.95056°WCoordinates: 44°15′54″N 104°57′2″W / 44.26500°N 104.95056°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Crook |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jay Chung |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.26 sq mi (3.26 km2) |
| • Land | 1.26 sq mi (3.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,226 ft (1,288 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,009 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 1,023 |
| • Density | 800.8/sq mi (309.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Mountain (MST) (UTC-7) |
| • Summer (DST) | MDT (UTC-6) |
| ZIP code | 82721 |
| Area code(s) | 307 |
| FIPS code | 56-54185 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1601528 |
| Website | townofmoorcroft |
Moorcroft is a town in Crook County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,009 at the 2010 census.
Moorcroft was incorporated on October 2, 1906. The exact meaning of Moorcroft is unknown but over the years has several suggested origins for the name. The town was named in 1876 after Alexander Moorcroft, an early settler who built a cabin in the Black Hills of Wyoming. The name Moorcroft was chosen by the community’s first postman Stocks Millar (1858-1890) after his home town in Scotland . Where the West Texas Trail crosses the highway. Herds of Texas longhorn cattle were pushed through here in the late 1800s giving the town its start, homesteaders came for the free land and Moorcroft was established. The thriving metropolis of Moorcroft had its beginning as a store, a saloon, and a roadhouse by the Belle Fourche River at the mouth of Donkey Creek and was known as LaBelle. LaBelle was located where the Texas Trail crosses Highway 16. In 1891, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company built a railroad through what is now Moorcroft.
In the Old Gaelic language, Moorcroft means "Cottage on the Plains". The exact origin of the name Moorcroft is not definitely known. One of the following, or both, is true, as they are both recorded in the Wyoming State Archives and Historical Department:
When the post office was moved to the railroad depot, it was named Moorcroft by Stocks Millar, (the first postmaster in the area) who named it after his mother's maiden name, Moorhouse. Instead of naming it Moorhouse, he named it Moorcroft.
Another possibility is that Alexander Moorcroft, a physician, had it named after him because he was the first white man to brave the conditions and build his cabin here, in open defiance of the Sioux Indians who inhabited this rangeland about 1895 - 1890.
The land on which the original town of Moorcroft now rests was homesteaded by Martin H. Eckert when Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States. When the railroad went through, the Lincoln Land Company bought the 159 acre homestead for $1180.00 on May 22, 1891.
The coming of 1892 saw the extension of the railroad line to Gillette, and the establishment of a mail route between Moorcroft and Sundance. The stage made three trips a week with passengers and mail.
On May 16, 1892, there came to town a young man by the name of Lucian Holbrook Robinson. Shortly after he arrived, he founded Moorcroft's first store in a twelve by fourteen foot walled tent. The post office was moved to the store, and "Lou" served as postmaster for several years. The postmastership was turned over to J.K. Somers, who built the first hotel in 1897. Moorcroft was incorporated on October 2, 1906. Frank C. Haselton was elected Mayor, Charles Lewis was the Town Clerk, Dr. N. B. Newcomer was Treasurer, Steve Daily was Marshall and C. E. Kackley was Justice of the Peace. The long-term councilmen were W. K. Somers and John F. Daily, and the short term councilmen were J. L. Michaels and Charles Kirby.
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