Bucknum is a place and former community in Natrona County, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. It is located about 24 miles west by road from Casper.
History As the Chicago and North Western built a rail line through the area west from Casper to Lander, it opened a station called Seminole by late December 1905, about 22.4 miles west of Casper by rail.(28 December 1905) Rail Road News Notes, Natrona County Tribune(6 January 1906). Northwest Notes, The Wyoming Press The "Seminole" name, however, started causing confusion with another Seminole located on the Union Pacific rail line in Wyoming.(28 December 1907). Change Seminole to Bucknum, Riverton Republican(8 January 1908). It is Bucknum Now, Natrona County Tribune Therefore, the station was renamed Bucknum in December 1907 by the railroad for Charles K. Bucknum, a Wyoming legislator and former mayor of Capser who owned land near the site.Chas. K. Bucknum, Casper Press (October 9, 1908)(10 January 1908). Other Counties Heard From, Wyoming State Journal and Lander Clipper(27 April 1924). Place Names of Natrona County and Their Derivation As Told By Historian, Casper Daily Tribune
A post office was established in Bucknum in 1908, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1924.Wyoming Place Names, Annals of Wyoming, Vol. 15, No. 1, p. 86 (January 1943)
Bucknum's reported population was 18 in 1917 and 25 in 1924. A school was reportedly established there by 1922.National Register of Historic Places; Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot, Powder Mill. (1987)
As the Chicago and North Western abandoned its line, the communities in this area including Bucknum declined.Old Wyoming Postoffices, Annals of Wyoming, p. 158 (October 1957) Rail continues to serve the area, however. A Spanish company bought the bentonite mine in the area formerly owned by U.S. Bentonite (off Bucknum Road) in 2015.(30 September 2015). Spanish company restarts Natrona County bentonite operations, Casper Star-Tribune(30 September 2015). Spanish company restarts Wyoming county bentonite operations, Billings GazetteDixon, Tom (21 December 2013). Casper bentonite company tries to rebound from bankruptcy, layoffs, Casper Star Tribune The Bucknum area now falls under the Casper zip code 82604.
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